Dave's ESL Cafe's Student Discussion Forums

[Veravera]

1. She feels like she is hitting it out of the ballpark.
What does 'hit it out of the ballpark' mean?

2. All bets are off.
what does that mean?

thanks!

[CP]

1. In baseball, if the batter hits the ball over the outfield fence, that is a home run, and the batter just trots around the bases and back home. The ball is out of play, and the batter and anyone else on bases ahead of him scores.

Hitting it over the fence and also over the stands beyond the fence is hitting it out of the park -- a tremendous blast, leaving no doubt that the batter crusehd the ball. It's not better than barely getting it over the fence in terms of score, but it is much more impressive.

Figuratively, anytime someone does a good job or has a great success, you might say, "He really hit that one out of the ballpark!"

2. It means that there is no telling what will happen now. "Once the Tour de France reaches the Alps, all bets are off." Means that it is so uncertain what might happen, that it would be foolish to bet on it.

"So long as North Korea had no nuclear weapons, the U.N. could relax. But now that North Korea is testing rockets and refuses to quit, all bets are off."
_________________
You live a new life for every new language you speak. -Czech proverb

[aevi82]

As far as I know bankers in casino also say "Bets are off" in the beginning of the game.
It means that you can't place your bet anymore. Is that right?

[iitimone7]

aevi82 - that is correct. iitimone7