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

“For Netflix, it’s been a home run success. And Amazon is going to go down the same path. ... It’s a chronic issue for Amazon.”

From Los Angeles Times

Bryan Reynolds worked a 12-pitch at-bat off spot starter Emmet Sheehan in the bottom of the first, before finally launching a home run to right field.

From Los Angeles Times

But Scott has been disappointing, posting a 4.44 ERA with eight blown saves for the Dodgers, including giving up a three-run home run Sunday.

From Los Angeles Times

Will Smith comes off the bench and hits a walk-off home run in the ninth inning as the Dodgers overcome a Tanner Scott disaster in a 5-4 win over the Diamondbacks.

From Los Angeles Times

He had hit only two home runs in his previous 28 games.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• center 
• dead center 
• omphalos