extra-base hit
Medium-LowTechnical/Sports
Definition
Meaning
In baseball, a hit where the batter reaches at least second base (a double, triple, or home run), as opposed to a single.
Occasionally used metaphorically in business or sports to describe a significant, high-value achievement beyond a basic success.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Specifically a baseball/softball term. The core concept is a hit generating more than one base of advancement. It's a subcategory of "base hit".
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
This term is almost exclusively American due to the cultural prevalence of baseball. It would be very rare in a British context unless discussing baseball.
Connotations
In AmE: Technical, sporting, statistical, connoting power and offensive success. In BrE: Typically only a direct borrowing from baseball, lacking broader cultural resonance.
Frequency
Virtually non-existent in BrE; has regular, understood usage in AmE sports media and statistics.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
[Player/Team] recorded/had/hit [number] extra-base hits.The [Player] is known for his extra-base-hit power.Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “He's an extra-base-hit machine.”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Rare metaphorical use: 'The new deal was an extra-base hit for the company.'
Academic
Virtually never used, except in sports history or statistics papers.
Everyday
Limited to conversations about baseball/softball.
Technical
Primary domain: baseball statistics, scouting reports, game commentary.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- The team struggled to extra-base hit against the dominant pitcher. (Very unnatural in BrE)
American English
- He has the ability to extra-base hit to all fields. (Rare, but possible in AmE sports jargon)
adverb
British English
- N/A
American English
- N/A
adjective
British English
- They lacked extra-base-hit potential. (Only in a baseball context)
American English
- His extra-base-hit power is among the best in the league.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- He hit the ball far for an extra-base hit.
- The player had two extra-base hits in the game, a double and a home run.
- Analysts value players who consistently produce extra-base hits, as they drive in more runs.
- While his batting average dipped, his isolated power metric remained high due to a steady stream of extra-base hits.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think 'EXTRA' bases beyond first. A single gets you to first; an EXTRA-base hit gets you to second or further.
Conceptual Metaphor
ACHIEVEMENT IS DISTANCE TRAVELED / VALUE IS QUANTITY (more bases = more valuable hit).
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Avoid literal translations like 'внебазовый удар' which is nonsensical. The correct Russian equivalent in context is 'удо́йный удар' or the descriptive 'удар на две/три базы или хоум-ран'.
Common Mistakes
- Using it to describe any successful action outside of baseball without clear metaphorical framing.
- Confusing it with 'base hit' (which includes singles).
Practice
Quiz
Which of the following is NOT an extra-base hit?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No. An extra-base hit must be a batted ball that allows the batter to reach base safely without an error, and it must be a double, triple, or home run. A walk is not a hit.
The common abbreviation is XBH.
Yes. Any home run, whether it leaves the park or not, is a type of extra-base hit.
No. This is a strictly baseball and softball term. Cricket has its own terminology for scoring boundaries (e.g., four, six).