call balls and strikes
Originating from baseball, the phrase 'call balls and strikes' is used to describe impartial judgment, akin to an umpire's role in the game.
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Definition
B2Baseball
(technical, sports)To determine and announce whether a pitch is a ball or a strike.
Example
- The umpire's main job is to call balls and strikes during the game.
B2General
(idiomatic)To make decisions or judgments impartially, without bias.
Example
- In her role as a judge, she strives to call balls and strikes fairly.
Similar
Terms that have similar or relatively close meanings to "call balls and strikes":
play ballstrike out lookingjudgment callstrike outplay the ball and not the manballs aboutwork the refsreturn ballno ballwild pitchgo to batcaptain ballball downball gamebrushback pitchhidden-ball trickahead in the count