What does "bat" mean?

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In addition to the idioms beginning with bat, also see at bat; blind as a bat; bats in one's belfry; go to bat for; like a bat out of hell right off the bat.

See bat in WNW Idioms

at bat

Baseball taking a turn at batting

bat around

â Slang

to travel or roam about
to consider or discuss (an idea, plan, etc.) freely and informally
Baseball to have all the batters in the lineup come to bat in a single inning

bat out

Slang to create or compose quickly or hastily

go to bat for

Informal to intervene on behalf of; defend

(right) off the bat

Informal immediately

blind as a bat

quite blind

have bats in the belfry

or have bats in one's belfryâ

Slang to be insane; have crazy notions

not bat an eye

or not bat an eyelashâ

Informal not show surprise

See bat in American Heritage Dictionary 4 Idioms

at bat

Sports

Taking one's turn to bat, as in baseball or cricket.

go to bat for

To give assistance to; defend.

off the bat

Without hesitation; immediately: They responded right off the bat.

have bats in (one's) belfry

To behave in an eccentric, bizarre manner.

not bat an eye

/eyelash Informal

To show no emotion; appear unaffected: The reporter didn't bat an eyelash while reading the gruesome news.

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