bat around: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C1-C2Informal
Quick answer
What does “bat around” mean?
To discuss or consider an idea, plan, or suggestion informally or in a preliminary way.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
To discuss or consider an idea, plan, or suggestion informally or in a preliminary way.
1. To travel from place to place frequently or aimlessly. 2. In baseball, to have a turn at batting during an inning.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Both meanings are understood in both dialects. The 'discuss' meaning is equally common. The 'travel aimlessly' meaning is slightly more prevalent in American usage. The baseball meaning is exclusively American.
Connotations
Neutral to slightly positive in the discussion sense, suggesting collaboration. The travel sense can have a slightly negative connotation of rootlessness.
Frequency
Moderately common in both dialects, more frequent in spoken and business English than in formal writing.
Grammar
How to Use “bat around” in a Sentence
[Subject] bat around [Object (idea)][Subject] bat [Object (idea)] aroundVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “bat around” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- We batted a few names around for the new head of department.
- They spent the afternoon batting around concepts for the art installation.
American English
- Let's bat that idea around at the next team meeting.
- He's been batting around the country for a few years now.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Common in meetings: 'Let's bat around some ideas for the new campaign.'
Academic
Rare in formal writing; possible in seminar discussions.
Everyday
Used among friends/family planning an event or solving a problem.
Technical
Not typical in technical contexts unless referring to abstract problem-solving.
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “bat around”
- Using it in a formal written report. *'The committee batted around the proposal.' (Too informal)
- Using the wrong particle: *'bat about' is less common.
- Using it to mean a final, decisive discussion.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
It is distinctly informal. Use 'discuss', 'consider', or 'deliberate' in formal writing.
Yes, with a pronoun you must separate them ('bat it around'). With a noun phrase, you can choose ('bat the idea around' or 'bat around the idea').
They are virtually synonymous in the 'discuss' sense. 'Kick around' can be slightly more casual. Only 'bat around' has the baseball meaning.
No. It explicitly describes the exploratory discussion phase that happens *before* a decision is made.
To discuss or consider an idea, plan, or suggestion informally or in a preliminary way.
Bat around: in British English it is pronounced /ˈbæt əˈraʊnd/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈbæt əˈraʊnd/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “Kick around (synonymous)”
- “Toss around (synonymous)”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine friends playing a casual game of table tennis (batting a ball back and forth). Similarly, 'batting an idea around' is a casual, back-and-forth discussion.
Conceptual Metaphor
IDEAS ARE OBJECTS (that can be played with, tossed, or hit). DISCUSSION IS A GAME (of ping-pong or baseball).
Practice
Quiz
In which context is 'bat around' LEAST appropriate?