Word Pronunciation & Dictionary

call balls and strikes

Word Rarity Uncommon

Frequency: Zipf frequency 4.05 in modern English

Syllables: cal-l ball-s and strikes
IPA

28

Scrabble Score

19

Letters

3

Syllables

12

Unique Chars

Meaning

verb

To act as a home plate umpire.

American usage

verb

To act impartially.

American usage

Example Sentences

"The San Rafael Pacifics and Vallejo Admirals, two independent (not major league-affiliated) minor league teams, recently played two games using a computer system, rather than the home plate umpire, to call balls and strikes."
"Mayor-elect Lori Lightfoot said Thursday she wants and expects Inspector General Joe Ferguson to “call balls and strikes” during her administration and sees no reason their friendship would conflict with his role as a city watchdog."

Usage

American usage

Inflected Forms

calls balls and strikes (present, singular) calling balls and strikes (participle, present) called balls and strikes (participle, past) called balls and strikes (past)

Questions

What does call balls and strikes mean?: To act as a home plate umpire.

How to pronounce call balls and strikes

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