Baseball is America's national sport, so it is not unusual that many popular expressions come from baseball.
But first, let me explain a little about the game.
Each baseball team has nine players. The pitcher of one team throws the ball to a batter from the other team.
The batter attempts to hit the ball. If he misses, it is called a strike.
If a batter gets three strikes he loses his turn at bat and is called out.
The batter also is out if he hits the ball in the air and an opposing player catches it.
But if the batter hits the ball and it is not caught, the batter tries to run to one or more of the four bases on the field.
The batter can run to all four bases if he hits the ball over the fence or out of the ballpark. Such a hit is called a home run.
Now, here are some common expressions from baseball. Someone who is on the ball is intelligent and able to do a good job.
