bat
A small animal that flies at night, with thin wings made of skin, not feathers.
A small, usually nocturnal mammal with wings made of skin, capable of powered flight, often living in caves or trees.
A long piece of wood or metal that a player holds to hit a ball in sports like baseball or cricket.
A long, usually wooden or metal piece of sports equipment used to hit a ball in games such as baseball, softball, or cricket.
To hit or try to hit a ball with a bat in sports like baseball or cricket.
To hit or attempt to hit a ball with a bat, especially in baseball, softball, or cricket.
To hit or push something in a quick, light way, often with your hand or something you hold.
To hit, push, or strike something lightly or quickly, often with the hand or an object, sometimes repeatedly.
To quickly open and close your eyes, often to show a feeling or to get someone’s attention.
To quickly open and close the eyes or eyelashes, often in a noticeable way, sometimes to show emotion or attract attention.
An unkind, informal word for a woman who seems rude, strange, or annoying, often an older woman.
An informal and often insulting word for a woman who is seen as unpleasant, annoying, or strange, especially an older woman.
- Base: bat
- Plural: bats
- Base: bat
- 3rd Person Singular: bats
- Present Participle: batting
- Past: batted
- Irregular present participle: batting Verb
- Irregular past: batted Verb
at bat
1Turn trying to hit in baseball
In baseball, the time when a player is hitting and trying to hit the ball.
- He got a hit in his first at bat.
- The next player is now at bat.
- She went to bat three times and got two hits.
bat around
1Discuss ideas casually
To talk about different ideas or plans in a relaxed way, without deciding anything.
- Let’s bat around some ideas for the new logo.
- We batted the plan around for a while but didn’t decide.
- They spent an hour batting around possible solutions.
bat something away
1Hit away or reject
To hit something away with your hand or an object, or to quickly refuse an idea, question, or offer.
- He batted the ball away from the goal.
- She batted away questions about her private life.
- The company batted away the critics’ complaints.
bat your eyelashes
1Flirt by moving eyelashes
To move your eyelashes up and down in a cute or playful way, usually to get someone’s attention or to get what you want.
- She just batted her eyelashes at the guard and he let her in.
- You can’t just bat your eyelashes and expect everything to be free.
- He batted his eyelashes innocently, pretending he had done nothing wrong.
go to bat for someone
1Defend or support someone
To support or defend someone, especially when it is difficult or risky for you.
- My manager really went to bat for me during the salary talks.
- You need friends who will go to bat for you when times are hard.
- The lawyer went to bat for her client in court.
have bats in the belfry
1Be crazy or very strange
To be crazy, very strange, or not thinking normally.
- People said the old man had bats in the belfry.
- If you think that plan will work, you’ve got bats in the belfry.
- She acts like she has bats in the belfry sometimes.
like a bat out of hell
1Very fast and wildly
Moving very fast and often in a wild or uncontrolled way.
- As soon as the bell rang, the students ran out like a bat out of hell.
- The car took off like a bat out of hell.
- He left the meeting like a bat out of hell when he saw his ex.
not bat an eye
1Show no sign of surprise
To show no surprise, fear, or other emotion on your face, even when something strange or bad happens.
- She didn’t bat an eye when they told her the bad news.
- He lied to the police without batting an eye.
- When the price doubled, the rich customers didn’t bat an eye.
old bat
1Unpleasant old woman (insult)
An unkind, insulting way to talk about an older woman who seems rude or strange.
- The kids called the strict neighbor an old bat.
- Don’t be such an old bat; come and have fun with us.
- He felt bad after calling his aunt an old bat.
right off the bat
1Immediately or at once
Immediately; at the very beginning of something.
- Right off the bat, he asked how much money I made.
- We liked the restaurant right off the bat.
- She made a good impression right off the bat.
take a bat to something
1Hit something hard with a bat
To attack or destroy something by hitting it many times with a bat or similar object.
- Someone took a bat to his car in the parking lot.
- He was so angry he wanted to take a bat to the printer.
- The vandals took a bat to the shop windows.
as blind as a bat
1Having very bad eyesight
Having very bad eyesight; not able to see well.
- Without my glasses I'm as blind as a bat.
- Without my glasses I’m as blind as a bat.
- He's as blind as a bat when it comes to fashion trends.
- He’s as blind as a bat when it comes to reading small print.
- She joked that she was as blind as a bat in the dark room.