sac bunt
Low (specialist term)Formal (sports journalism, coaching), Technical (baseball)
Definition
Meaning
In baseball, a bunt (a lightly hit ball) deliberately executed to advance a baserunner by sacrificing the batter's opportunity to reach base safely.
Any strategic action where a person or team sacrifices their own immediate advantage or opportunity to benefit a teammate or the broader group's objective. In broader management contexts, it can refer to a deliberate, short-term loss accepted for a longer-term strategic gain.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Specifically a baseball term. The word 'sac' is a common abbreviation for 'sacrifice' in this context. Implies intentionality and team benefit over individual statistics.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
The term is almost exclusively American, as baseball is not a major sport in the UK. In British sports contexts (e.g., cricket), no direct equivalent action exists, though the concept of 'sacrificing your wicket' is different.
Connotations
In AmE: Positive connotation of selfless, smart teamwork. In BrE: Unfamiliar to most; may be understood only by baseball fans.
Frequency
Virtually never used in BrE outside of discussions of American sports.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
[Team/Player] executed a sac bunt to advance [Runner].The manager called for a sac bunt in the seventh inning.He laid down a perfect sac bunt.Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “Take one for the team (related broader concept).”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Metaphorically, a project delay accepted to reallocate resources to a higher-priority initiative.
Academic
Rare, except in sports science or sociology papers analyzing cooperative vs. individualistic strategies.
Everyday
Extremely rare unless discussing baseball.
Technical
Precise baseball term with defined rules (e.g., a bunt with less than two outs that advances a runner while the batter is put out).
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
American English
- The coach told him to sac bunt to move the runner to second.
- He successfully sac bunted in the ninth inning.
adjective
American English
- It was a clear sac-bunt situation.
- He has excellent sac-bunt technique.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- In baseball, a player sometimes makes a sac bunt to help the team.
- The manager's decision to call for a sac bunt in the early innings was debated by the commentators.
- His ability to execute a perfect sac bunt under pressure is a valuable skill.
- While sabermetrics often devalues the sac bunt as statistically inefficient, its psychological impact in a tight game can be significant.
- The rookie's unselfish sac bunt in the playoff game exemplified the team-first attitude the manager demanded.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think SACk: 'Sacrifice A runner's Chance' by bunting.
Conceptual Metaphor
TEAM SUCCESS IS A COLLECTIVE EFFORT; INDIVIDUAL SACRIFICE FOR COLLECTIVE ADVANCEMENT.
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Avoid literal translation ('мешок bunt'). It is a fixed term.
- Do not confuse with 'sac' meaning 'bag' in French/medical English.
- The concept is specific to baseball, with no direct Russian sporting equivalent; periphrastic explanation is needed.
Common Mistakes
- Misspelling as 'sack bunt'.
- Using it to describe any bunt, rather than specifically one that sacrifices the batter.
- Using it in non-baseball contexts without clear metaphorical setup.
Practice
Quiz
What is the primary purpose of a sac bunt?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No. A bunt hit is an attempt by the batter to reach base safely. A sac bunt's primary goal is to advance a runner, and the batter expects to be thrown out.
No. If it is officially scored as a sacrifice, the batter is not charged with an at-bat, and it cannot be a hit.
To strategically move a runner into scoring position (e.g., from first to second base) with a higher probability of success than a stolen base or hit, especially in a low-scoring game.
Yes, it is pronounced /sæk/, as the standard abbreviation of 'sacrifice'.