ballgame

ball game also ball·game (bôlgm)

n.

1. A game, especially baseball, that is played with a ball.

2. Slang

a. A competition: "But in the winner-take-all world of politics, the contest for the undecided 2 or 3 percent can be the whole ballgame" (Brad Edmondson).

b. A particular condition, situation, or set of circumstances.

3. Anthropology A game with religious and political significance in Mayan and various other pre-Columbian societies of Mesoamerica, southwestern North America, and the Caribbean, played with a rubber ball in a walled court.

Thesaurus

Noun	1.	ballgame - a particular situation that is radically different from the preceding situation; "HDTV looks the same but it's really a whole new ballgame" new ballgame situation, state of affairs - the general state of things; the combination of circumstances at a given time; "the present international situation is dangerous"; "wondered how such a state of affairs had come about"; "eternal truths will be neither true nor eternal unless they have fresh meaning for every new social situation"- Franklin D.Roosevelt
	2.	ballgame - a field game played with a ball (especially baseball) ball game field game - an outdoor game played on a field of specified dimensions baseball, baseball game - a ball game played with a bat and ball between two teams of nine players; teams take turns at bat trying to score runs; "he played baseball in high school"; "there was a baseball game on every empty lot"; "there was a desire for National League ball in the area"; "play ball!" baseball, baseball game - a ball game played with a bat and ball between two teams of nine players; teams take turns at bat trying to score runs; "he played baseball in high school"; "there was a baseball game on every empty lot"; "there was a desire for National League ball in the area"; "play ball!" close - change one's body stance so that the forward shoulder and foot are closer to the intended point of impact