bat
B1Neutral, common in both everyday and specific sporting/biological contexts.
Definition
Meaning
A small, nocturnal flying mammal with leathery wings; also, a piece of sports equipment used to hit a ball in games like cricket or baseball.
To hit or strike something, typically a ball, with a bat; to move or flutter quickly; (informal) to discuss or consider an idea (to "bat something around"); (British slang) a rate of speed or a spree.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
The word represents a clear case of polysemy: two distinct primary meanings (animal & tool) with little semantic overlap, which can cause confusion for learners. The verb meanings derive primarily from the tool sense.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
The animal sense is universal. The tool sense is strongly associated with baseball (US) and cricket (UK). 'Bat' can mean 'to flutter eyelashes' more commonly in UK English ('She batted her eyelashes'). The phrase 'to bat an idea around' (discuss casually) is more common in US English. The UK-specific idiom is 'to go to bat for someone' (support) is a direct loan from baseball but understood in context.
Connotations
In US, 'bat' has strong connotations of baseball culture and national sport. In UK, 'bat' evokes cricket or the animal. 'Old bat' as a derogatory term for an unpleasant older woman is used in both, slightly informal.
Frequency
Higher frequency in sports reporting in respective cultures. The animal sense is equally common.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
bat something (verb - transitive)bat for someone (verb - prepositional)go to bat (verb phrase)at bat (prepositional phrase)Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “off one's own bat (UK: independently)”
- “right off the bat (US: immediately)”
- “like a bat out of hell (very fast)”
- “bat an eyelid (show surprise or concern)”
- “go to bat for someone (defend or support)”
- “blind as a bat (having very poor eyesight)”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Used metaphorically: 'Let's bat around some ideas in the meeting.'
Academic
Primarily in biology/zoology contexts: 'The study focused on the echolocation of the brown bat.'
Everyday
Common: 'I need a new cricket/baseball bat.' 'A bat flew into the attic.'
Technical
Sports engineering (materials, design of bats), Zoology (bat species, behaviour).
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- He batted the idea around during the tea break.
- She never batted an eyelid at the shocking news.
American English
- He's batting cleanup for the Yankees today.
- We batted around a few concepts before deciding.
adverb
British English
- (No standard adverbial use. 'Bat' is not used as an adverb.)
American English
- (No standard adverbial use. 'Bat' is not used as an adverb.)
adjective
British English
- The bat conservation area is protected.
- He has a rather bat-like hearing.
American English
- The bat boy retrieved the equipment.
- We entered the bat cave cautiously.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- I saw a bat in the garden at night.
- He hit the ball with a bat.
- The children bought a new cricket bat for the match.
- Bats use sound to find their way in the dark.
- She didn't bat an eyelash when he told her the plane was cancelled.
- The new player will bat fourth in the lineup today.
- The committee batted around several proposals before reaching a consensus.
- Off his own bat, he initiated a complete review of the safety protocols.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
BAT = Big Animal Tool? It's either a Big Animal (flying) or a Tool (for hitting). Imagine a bat using a tiny baseball bat.
Conceptual Metaphor
AGGRESSION IS SWINGING A BAT ('He took a swing at the proposal'). SPEED IS A BAT IN FLIGHT ('She ran like a bat out of hell').
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Do not confuse 'bat' (летучая мышь / бита) with 'but' (но).
- The Russian word 'ракетка' is usually 'racket', not 'bat'. A tennis bat is a 'tennis racket'.
- The verb 'to bat' is not simply 'бить'. It's specific to hitting with a bat or fluttering eyelids.
Common Mistakes
- Using 'bat' for all racket sports (e.g., *tennis bat*).
- Confusing 'bat an eye' with 'blink' (it implies a deliberate, often flirtatious action).
- Misusing the idiom: *'He did it off the bat'* (incorrect) vs. 'right off the bat' or 'off his own bat'.
Practice
Quiz
In British English, what does the idiom 'to do something off your own bat' mean?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, they are homonyms—identical in spelling and pronunciation but with completely different origins and meanings. This is a classic example of polysemy where the connection is historical, not logical.
A 'bat' is typically a solid piece of equipment (wood, metal) used in baseball, cricket, or table tennis. A 'racket' has a handle and an open frame strung with cord or gut, used in tennis, badminton, or squash. 'Paddle' is also used for solid, short-handled tools in sports like table tennis.
Yes, the verb 'to bat' (as in hitting a ball or fluttering) is regular: bat, batted, batted.
It's a common idiom, but it can be considered mildly offensive if used directly to describe a person's disability, as it trivialises their condition. It's safer to use it for situations ('I was blind as a bat without my glasses') rather than people.
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