without batting an eye - definition of without batting an eye by the Free Online Dictionary, Thesaurus and Encyclopedia.

bat¹ (b

1. A stout wooden stick; a cudgel.

2. A blow, such as one delivered with a stick.

3. Baseball A rounded, often wooden club, wider and heavier at the hitting end and tapering at the handle, used to strike the ball.

4. Sports

a. A club used in cricket, having a broad, flat-surfaced hitting end and a distinct, narrow handle.

b. The racket used in various games, such as table tennis or racquets.

v. bat·ted, bat·ting, bats

v.tr.

1. To hit with or as if with a bat.

2. Baseball

a. To cause (a run) to be scored while at bat: batted the winning run in with a double.

b. To have (a certain percentage) as a batting average.

3. Informal To discuss or consider at length: bat an idea around.

v.intr.

1. Baseball

a. To use a bat.

b. To have a turn at bat.

2. Slang To wander about aimlessly.

Phrasal Verb:

bat out

Informal To produce in a hurried or informal manner: batted out thank-you notes all morning.

Idioms:

at bat Sports

Taking one's turn to bat, as in baseball or cricket.

go to bat for

To give assistance to; defend.

off the bat

Without hesitation; immediately: They responded right off the bat.

[Middle English, perhaps partly of Celtic origin and partly from Old French batte, pounding implement, flail (from batre, to beat; see batter¹).]

bat² (b

Any of various nocturnal flying mammals of the order Chiroptera, having membranous wings that extend from the forelimbs to the hind limbs or tail and anatomical adaptations for echolocation, by which they navigate and hunt prey.

Idiom:

have bats in (one's) belfry

To behave in an eccentric, bizarre manner.

[Alteration of Middle English bakke, of Scandinavian origin.]

bat³ (b

tr.v. bat·ted, bat·ting, bats

To wink or flutter: bat one's eyelashes.

Idiom:

not bat an eye/eyelash Informal

To show no emotion; appear unaffected: The reporter didn't bat an eyelash while reading the gruesome news.

[Probably a variant of bate².]

bat⁴ (b

n. Slang

A binge; a spree.

[Probably from batter, spree.]

bat ¹

Noun

1. any of various types of club used to hit the ball in certain sports

2. Cricket a batsman

3. off one's own bat

a. of one's own accord

b. by one's own unaided efforts

Verb

[batting, batted]

1. to strike with or as if with a bat

2. Cricket etc. to take a turn at batting [Old English batt club]

bat ²

Noun

1. a nocturnal mouselike flying animal with leathery wings

2. blind as a bat having extremely poor eyesight [Scandinavian]

bat ³

Verb

[batting, batted]

1. to flutter (one's eyelids)

2. not bat an eyelid Informal to show no surprise [probably from obsolete bate flutter, beat]

ThesaurusLegend: Synonyms Related Words Antonyms

Noun	1.	bat - nocturnal mouselike mammal with forelimbs modified to form membranous wings and anatomical adaptations for echolocation by which they navigate chiropteran eutherian, eutherian mammal, placental, placental mammal - mammals having a placenta; all mammals except monotremes and marsupials Chiroptera, order Chiroptera - an old order dating to early Eocene: bats: suborder Megachiroptera (fruit bats); suborder Microchiroptera (insectivorous bats) fruit bat, megabat - large Old World bat of warm and tropical regions that feeds on fruit carnivorous bat, microbat - typically having large ears and feeding primarily on insects; worldwide in distribution wing - a movable organ for flying (one of a pair)
	2.	bat - (baseball) a turn trying to get a hit; "he was at bat when it happened"; "he got four hits in four at-bats" at-bat turn, play - (game) the activity of doing something in an agreed succession; "it is my turn"; "it is still my play" 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!"
	3.	bat - a small racket with a long handle used for playing squash squash racket, squash racquet racquet, racket - a sports implement (usually consisting of a handle and an oval frame with a tightly interlaced network of strings) used to strike a ball (or shuttlecock) in various games
	4.	bat - the club used in playing cricket; "a cricket bat has a narrow handle and a broad flat end for hitting" cricket bat cricket equipment - sports equipment used in playing cricket handgrip, handle, grip, hold - the appendage to an object that is designed to be held in order to use or move it; "he grabbed the hammer by the handle"; "it was an old briefcase but it still had a good grip"
	5.	bat - a club used for hitting a ball in various games baseball bat, lumber - an implement used in baseball by the batter club - stout stick that is larger at one end; "he carried a club in self defense"; "he felt as if he had been hit with a club" paddle - small wooden bat with a flat surface; used for hitting balls in various games
Verb	1.	bat - strike with, or as if with a baseball bat; "bat the 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!" hit - deal a blow to, either with the hand or with an instrument; "He hit her hard in the face" bat - use a bat; "Who's batting?" bat - have a turn at bat; "Jones bats first, followed by Martinez" switch-hit - bat right-handed against a left-handed and left-handed against a right-handed pitcher
	2.	bat - wink briefly; "bat one's eyelids" flutter blink, nictate, nictitate, wink - briefly shut the eyes; "The TV announcer never seems to blink"
	3.	bat - have a turn at bat; "Jones bats first, followed by Martinez" 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!" hit - deal a blow to, either with the hand or with an instrument; "He hit her hard in the face" bat - strike with, or as if with a baseball bat; "bat the ball"
	4.	bat - use a bat; "Who's batting?" 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!" hit - deal a blow to, either with the hand or with an instrument; "He hit her hard in the face" bat - strike with, or as if with a baseball bat; "bat the ball"
	5.	bat - beat thoroughly and conclusively in a competition or fight; "We licked the other team on Sunday!" drub, lick, clobber, cream, thrash beat, beat out, vanquish, trounce, crush, shell - come out better in a competition, race, or conflict; "Agassi beat Becker in the tennis championship"; "We beat the competition"; "Harvard defeated Yale in the last football game" flail, thrash, lam, thresh - give a thrashing to; beat hard