home run

[ hohm ruhn ]

noun

1. Also called homer. Baseball. a hit that enables a batter, without the aid of a fielding error, to score a run by making a nonstop circuit of the bases. : h.r., hr, HR
2. a complete or unqualified success:

   trying to hit a home run at the box office.

home run

noun

1. baseball a hit that enables the batter to run round all four bases, usually by hitting the ball out of the playing area

Word History and Origins

Origin of home run¹

An Americanism first recorded in 1855–60

Idioms and Phrases

A highly successful achievement; also, doubling one's profits. For example, We scored a home run with that drug stock, buying it at 15 and selling at 30 . This expression originated in the mid-1800s in baseball, where it refers to a pitched ball batted so far that the batter can round all three bases and reach home plate, scoring a run. Its figurative use dates from the mid-1900s.

Example Sentences

Hernández hit a key home run in Game 5 of the Dodgers’ National League Division Series win over San Diego and homered again in the National League Championship Series win over the New York Mets.

From Los Angeles Times

Chisholm started all five games and batted .238 with five hits, one home run, one run batted in and three runs scored.

From Los Angeles Times

I am now exactly 71 myself, and a week ago I was at the Freeman walk-off home run with my son.

From Los Angeles Times

Four batters into the game, the Yankees had two home runs and a 3-0 lead.

From Los Angeles Times

He hit a home run in each of the first four games of the series and drove in a record-tying 12 runs overall.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• center
• dead center
• omphalos