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ballpark
hit (something) out of the (ball)park
To do or perform something extraordinarily well; to produce or earn an exceptional achievement. An allusion to hitting a home run in baseball that lands outside the stadium. Great job on that report, Jacobs—you really hit it out of the park! I'm pretty sure I hit that test out of the ballpark.
ballpark estimate
An approximate estimate. Mary contacted several plumbers to get a ballpark estimate of the cost to fix her leaky toilet.
ballpark figure
An approximate number; an estimate. Do you have a ballpark figure for the cost of the renovations? That's just a ballpark figure—they don't know exactly how many people will be attending the event.
be in the same ballpark
To be close to a specific cost or amount. I will only sell the house if the buyer's offer is in the same ballpark as the price I want to get. No, the salary isn't as high as I had hoped, but I accepted it because it's in the same ballpark at least.
ballpark figure
Fig. an estimate; an off-the-cuff guess. I don't need an exact number. A ballpark figure will do.
in the ballpark
Fig. within certain boundaries; [of an estimate] close to what is expected. Your estimate is not even in the ballpark. Please try again.
out of the ballpark
Fig. beyond the amount of money suggested or available. Your estimate is completely out of the ballpark. Just forget it.
in the ballpark
within an acceptable or similar range We weren't even in the ballpark – we offered $170 million, but the offer they accepted was for $350 million.
in the same ballpark
of a similar nature When it comes to budget cuts, tourism just isn't in the same ballpark as education and public safety.
a ballpark estimate/figure
a number which is only approximate, but which should be near to the correct number We're expecting sales of the book to generate around $10,000 dollars, although obviously that's just a ballpark figure.
be in the same ballpark
to be of a similar amount or cost Jamie makes over two hundred thousand dollars and I don't know exactly how much Tom makes but I guess it's in the same ballpark.
ballpark figure
An acceptable, roughly accurate approximation, as in I know you can't tell me the exact cost; just give me a ballpark figure. This term alludes to a baseball field, which is always an enclosed space. The expression is basically an extension of the somewhat earlier in the ballpark, meaning within a reasonable range, and out of the ballpark, beyond a reasonable range. [Slang; late 1960s]
in the ballpark