left field

noun

1. Baseball.
   1. the area of the outfield to the left of center field, as viewed from home plate.
   2. the position of the player covering this area.
2. Slang. a position or circumstance that is remote from an ordinary or general trend.

left-field

adjective

1. informal.
   regarded as being outside the mainstream; unconventional

Word History and Origins

Origin of left field¹

An Americanism dating back to 1855–60

Word History and Origins

Origin of left field¹

C20: from baseball term left field, the area of the outfield to the batter's left, regarded as the scene of little action

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

1. out in left field, Slang. completely mistaken; wrong.

More idioms and phrases containing left field

see out in left field .

Example Sentences

On his 24th birthday, Robles doubled in the third and was knocked in by Turner, then lifted a ball to the left field corner to score Gomes in the fourth.

From Washington Post

Engineering giant Honeywell burst into the quantum computing race out of left field last year.

From Singularity Hub 

This week, Schwarber even jumped — let’s not say “leaped” — above the left field fence to rob a home run.

From Washington Post

Perhaps because nobody really knows how to market a film during a pandemic, Barb and Star emerged somewhat out of left field.

From Time

By then, Harrison was in left field, continuing his ongoing trip around the diamond.

From Washington Post

In the 13th inning, a Red Sox batter popped one down left field line and Jeter went to get it.

From The Daily Beast

“It really came out of left field,” he says of the whole Donald Sterling fiasco.

From The Daily Beast

On gun control, a hair-trigger issue for Republicans who pick the nominee, Christie is in the center or even center–left field.

From The Daily Beast

After the success of Mulholland Drive, and the left-field blockbuster, The Ring, Watts became a household name.

From The Daily Beast

You could be in a foul mood and he would come up with something out of left field to put a smile on your face.

From The Daily Beast

It was a fly to left field, as long as the one that had baffled Prissler a moment before, but much higher.

From Project Gutenberg

Just before his leg hit the sack at second, Bonfire stole a glance toward left field.

From Project Gutenberg

Weir lifted a high fly to left field, and when the ball dropped into the fielder's hands Ray ran home on the throw-in.

From Project Gutenberg

I held down left field for two seasons on the greatest college team ever developed out West.

From Project Gutenberg

That means he swings at the ball late and makes most of his drives to left field.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• disproportionate
• improper
• incorrect
• irrelevant
• tasteless
• unseemly
• unsuitable
• wrong