IDIOMS

World of sports

IN ENGLISH, THE BUSINESS WORLD DRAWS SIGNIFICANT INSPIRATION FROM THE WORLD OF SPORTS, WHICH IS REFLECTED IN MANY COMMONLY USED EXPRESSIONS. WE HAVE COMPILED A LIST OF OVER 130 SUCH EXPRESSIONS, COMPLETE WITH EXPLANATIONS AND EXAMPLES.

IN THE SAME BALLPARK.
Baseball ballpark illustrating ‘In the Same Ballpark,’ meaning close enough in business.

This expression is used when something is close enough to something else in comparison. While it is often used in the context of money or budgets, it can apply to many situations.

The expression comes from the world of sports, specifically baseball. The word 'ballpark' itself has long been used in baseball, but the phrase 'in the same ballpark' originally gained popularity in the business world to mean 'approximately correct or within range'. Later, it was occasionally used back in baseball commentary in this figurative sense.

Examples of use in a business context:

  • Your proposal is in the same ballpark of what we were expecting.

  • Your salary expectations are in the same ballpark of what we can pay - this could work.

  • Our manufacturing process is not the same, but it is in the same ballpark.

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