brushback: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
LowColloquial (Sports), Informal (Extended)
Quick answer
What does “brushback” mean?
A baseball pitch thrown intentionally close to the batter's body to force them to move away from home plate.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A baseball pitch thrown intentionally close to the batter's body to force them to move away from home plate.
An aggressive or intimidating action intended to warn or force someone to back down or reconsider their position.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
The core meaning is almost entirely American, given baseball's cultural prevalence. In British English, it is understood only as a sports borrowing or metaphorical term.
Connotations
In US sports contexts, it's a standard, if aggressive, tactic. In UK/EU metaphorical contexts, it can sound like American jargon.
Frequency
Very low frequency in British English. Low but established frequency in American English within sports journalism and metaphorical political/business analysis.
Grammar
How to Use “brushback” in a Sentence
The pitcher threw a brushback (to the batter).The CEO's statement was a brushback (against the activists).Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “brushback” in a Sentence
adjective
British English
- He is known for his brushback pitching style.
American English
- The manager called for a brushback pitch to change the batter's stance.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Refers to a strategic, aggressive move to deter a competitor or activist shareholder.
Academic
Rarely used; may appear in papers on sports sociology or political communication as a metaphor.
Everyday
Very uncommon in general conversation outside of baseball fans or politics watchers.
Technical
Specific baseball term for a pitch with a defined tactical purpose.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “brushback”
Strong
Neutral
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “brushback”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “brushback”
- Using it as a verb (to brushback someone) is non-standard; the verb is 'to throw a brushback'. Confusing it with 'pushback', which is more about resistance than intimidation.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, it's primarily a noun (a brushback pitch). The action is described as 'to throw a brushback' or 'to brush a batter back'.
Yes, but only metaphorically. It describes an action meant to intimidate or warn someone to back off, common in political or business writing.
A brushback is meant to be close but not hit the batter, forcing them off the plate. A beanball is aimed at the batter's head and is considered far more dangerous and unsportsmanlike.
No. It is a low-frequency, domain-specific term. Learners should be aware of it for comprehension in certain contexts but do not need to actively use it.
A baseball pitch thrown intentionally close to the batter's body to force them to move away from home plate.
Brushback is usually colloquial (sports), informal (extended) in register.
Brushback: in British English it is pronounced /ˈbrʌʃbæk/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈbrəʃˌbæk/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine a painter's brush flicking paint *back* at someone, making them step back. The 'brush' in baseball 'brushes' the batter back from the plate.
Conceptual Metaphor
AGGRESSION IS A THROWN OBJECT / COMMUNICATION IS PHYSICAL CONFRONTATION.
Practice
Quiz
In which context is the term 'brushback' MOST literally applicable?