Dictionary

bat around en · VERB

Meanings

1. (intransitive) To have each of a team's batting line-up positions complete an at-bat in the same half-inning.
   • The Phillies thus batted around the lineup without a hit for the first time since July 17, 1992, a run that lasted more than 24 years, per ESPN Stats & Info. If not for the inning-ending double play, the Phillies might have even sent 10 or 11 batters to the plate without recording a single hit. 2016 July 31, Bleacher Report Milestones, “Phillies Bat Around in 8th Inning Without Recording a Hit”, in Bleacher Report:
   • […]the Braves knocked Bunning out, batting around and scoring six runs in the fourth inning. They then scored four more runs the next inning, batting around once again against Dallas Green[…]. 2005, John P. Rossi, The 1964 Phillies: The Story of Baseball's Most Memorable Collapse, McFarland, →ISBN, page 128:
   • If the teams do not have the same number of players, the team with the greater number of players bats around once per inning, and the team with the smaller number of players will bat an equal number of times as the opposing team,[…]. 1965, Recreation, National Recreation Association, page 498:
2. (intransitive) To have each of a team's batting line-up positions complete an at-bat in the same half-inning. ▸ To have a team's first batter of the inning come to bat for a second time (after all of the others in the batting line-up have batted). (See the usage note below.)
3. (informal, transitive) To discuss.
   • I think we've batted this idea around enough to take a decision.
4. (informal, intransitive) To flit quickly from place to place.
   • You must be tired after batting around all day.
5. (informal, intransitive) To waste time; to idle or loaf.

Forms