Puzzle #366 · June 2, 2026
ballpark
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Every day one two-word expression or compound word used in American English.
A ballpark is a stadium where baseball is played—but the more common usage is as a rough estimate. “Give me a ballpark figure” means give me an approximate number, not an exact one.
The figurative meaning comes from the idea that if you're “in the ballpark,” you're at least in the right general area, even if not precisely on target. A ballpark estimate of a home renovation might be $50,000, meaning it could be $40,000 or $65,000. The phrase implies acceptable imprecision. Saying something is “not even in the ballpark” means it's so far off that it's not worth discussing.
The figurative meaning comes from the idea that if you're “in the ballpark,” you're at least in the right general area, even if not precisely on target. A ballpark estimate of a home renovation might be $50,000, meaning it could be $40,000 or $65,000. The phrase implies acceptable imprecision. Saying something is “not even in the ballpark” means it's so far off that it's not worth discussing.
Puzzle Appearances
The expression ballpark has appeared in 1 puzzle:
- Puzzle #366 on June 2, 2026
Rate of Appearance in English Language Print
Google's Ngram project shows how often a pair of words has appeared in print every year since the 1800's.
Data from Google Books Ngram Viewer. Licensed under CC BY 3.0.
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