sac fly
Low (Specialist)Technical/Sports
Definition
Meaning
In baseball, a sacrifice fly (abbreviated SF) is a fly ball hit to the outfield that is caught for an out, but allows a runner on third base to score after the catch.
A tactical play where a batter intentionally hits a fly ball deep enough to the outfield, sacrificing their own chance to reach base (by being put out) in order to advance a teammate and score a run. It is a specific statistical category in baseball scoring.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
The term is a clipped form of 'sacrifice fly'. It is exclusively used in the context of baseball and softball. The action is recorded as an at-bat for the batter (unlike a sacrifice bunt) but not counted against their batting average.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
The term is almost exclusively American. In British English, the sport of baseball is niche, and the term would be unfamiliar to the general population. It would only be used by those following or playing the sport.
Connotations
In AmE, it denotes a strategic, team-oriented play. In BrE, it is a highly specific import from American sports culture.
Frequency
Virtually zero frequency in general BrE. Common within American baseball commentary, reporting, and statistics.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
[Batter] hit a sac fly to [Location].A sac fly by [Batter] scored [Runner].The run scored on a sac fly.Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Usage
Context Usage
Everyday
Not used in everyday conversation outside of baseball contexts.
Technical
Used in baseball statistics, game commentary, rulebooks, and strategy discussions. E.g., 'He leads the league in sac flies.'
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- (Rare/Unused in BrE) The batter attempted to sac fly the runner home.
American English
- (Informal/rare in formal stats) He needs to sac fly here to tie the game.
adverb
British English
- (Not used)
American English
- (Not used)
adjective
British English
- (Not used)
American English
- He had a sac fly situation in the eighth inning.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- He hit the ball far. A runner scored.
- The team got one point.
- The batter hit a long fly ball. The runner scored after the catch.
- It was a sacrifice fly to bring in the run.
- With a runner on third and less than two outs, the batter's goal was to hit a sac fly to the outfield.
- The run scored easily on the deep sac fly to right field.
- Despite recording an out, the batter was credited with an RBI for his well-executed sac fly to centre field.
- The manager debated whether to pinch-hit for a better contact hitter in that sac fly situation.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think 'SACk the FLY ball' to help the team SCORE. It's a SACrifice for the team's benefit.
Conceptual Metaphor
SACRIFICE (giving up something of value for a greater good). The batter sacrifices their personal statistics for the team's run.
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Avoid literal translation like 'сумка летать'. The term is a fixed sports idiom.
- Do not confuse with 'fly' as an insect or verb of movement.
Common Mistakes
- Misspelling as 'sack fly' or 'sacrefice fly'.
- Using it as a verb ('He sac flied the runner in') is informal/rare; the standard phrasing is 'He hit a sac fly'.
- Confusing it with a 'sacrifice bunt' (a ground ball).
Practice
Quiz
What is the primary purpose of a sac fly?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No. The batter is credited with an at-bat and an out, but not a hit. However, they do get credited with a Run Batted In (RBI).
Typically, it applies to a runner on third base scoring after the catch. A runner on second base can also advance on a sac fly, but a run only scores from third.
A sac fly is a ball hit in the air to the outfield. A sacrifice bunt is a ball bunted softly on the ground to advance a runner. A sac bunt is not counted as an at-bat.
No. It is a term specific to baseball and softball. Cricket has completely different rules and terminology for scoring and dismissals.
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