sacrifice bunt
LowTechnical / Sports
Definition
Meaning
In baseball and softball, a batting technique where the batter intentionally taps the ball softly into the infield to advance a baserunner, typically sacrificing the batter's chance to get on base.
Any strategic action where a personal advantage is willingly given up for the benefit of the team or a collective goal; metaphorically used to describe calculated loss for strategic gain.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Exclusively a baseball/softball term. Requires a specific situational context (baserunner(s) on base). Compound noun, acts as a single concept.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
The term is American English due to the origin of baseball. It is rarely used or understood in a sports context in British English, though metaphorically it might be explained. In the UK, 'sacrifice play' or context-specific explanation is needed.
Connotations
In the US, it has strong, positive connotations of teamwork, strategy, and selflessness within baseball. In the UK, it may have no inherent connotation or be seen as an obscure Americanism.
Frequency
Common in American sports commentary and writing. Extremely rare in British English outside discussions of baseball.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
[Team/Player] + [verb: execute/attempt/lay down] + a sacrifice bunt + [prep: to advance/for][Manager] + called for + a sacrifice buntVocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “lay down the bunt”
- “take one for the team (broader metaphorical equivalent)”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Used metaphorically: 'The marketing team made a sacrifice bunt, pulling their ad spend to fund the larger product launch.'
Academic
Rare, except in sports history, sociology of sports, or strategic studies as a case of cooperative strategy.
Everyday
Rare outside US sports fans. Non-fans would likely need explanation.
Technical
Precise tactical term in baseball coaching, analytics, and commentary. Discussed in terms of win probability, runner advancement, and game state.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- The coach signalled for the batter to bunt sacrificially.
- He attempted to bunt the runner over to second.
American English
- He's going to sacrifice bunt here. (common in commentary)
- The manager had him bunt to move the runner.
adverb
British English
- N/A – no standard adverbial form.
American English
- N/A – no standard adverbial form.
adjective
British English
- It was a sacrificial bunting situation.
- The player has good bunting technique for sacrifices.
American English
- He's a good sacrifice bunt hitter.
- They practised the sacrifice bunt play in drills.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- The player bunted. The runner went to second base.
- In baseball, a sacrifice bunt helps a teammate run to the next base.
- The manager called for a sacrifice bunt to advance the runner from first to second with no outs.
- Analysts debated whether the sacrifice bunt in the fifth inning, while successful, actually increased the team's win expectancy given the pitcher's on-deck.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of 'sacrifice' (giving something up) + 'bunt' (a soft tap in baseball). Together, it's the 'selfless tap' to help a teammate move forward.
Conceptual Metaphor
STRATEGY IS WAR / GAME THEORY. A tactical, calculated loss of a small asset (the batter's out) to gain a more valuable positional advantage (advancing the runner).
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Avoid direct translation like 'жертвенная бочка'. The word 'bunt' here is not related to rebellion or 'бунт'. Use the calque 'сакрафайс-ба́нт' or descriptive phrase 'подставная мушка (в бейсболе)'.
Common Mistakes
- Using it outside of baseball/softball without explanation.
- Confusing it with a 'bunt for a hit'.
- Using it as a verb phrase incorrectly (e.g., 'He sacrifice bunted' – better: 'He laid down a sacrifice bunt').
Practice
Quiz
In which situation is a sacrifice bunt MOST strategically useful?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No. A sacrifice bunt's primary goal is to advance the runner; the batter expects to be thrown out. A 'bunt for a hit' is an attempt by the batter to reach base safely.
No, by definition, if it's scored as a sacrifice bunt (sacrifice hit, SH), the batter is not credited with a time at bat or a hit, even if they reach base safely due to a defensive error or misplay.
No. Its use has declined in Major League Baseball with the rise of analytics, which often show it reduces scoring potential. It remains more common in softball, college baseball, and leagues where scoring is generally lower.
You could describe it as 'a planned out' or 'a deliberate, soft hit that gets the batter out but lets a teammate move forward on the bases.'