Phrase guide
Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.
Sound
Each Play button uses your device's default local English voice, or a natural local fallback. The selected voice name appears after playback. This is synthesized speech, not a source recording.
verb
for a pitcher to throw a pitch at or near the batter, typically to frighten the batter or to have him stand farther away from home plate.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: idiomatic
Topics: ball-games, baseball, games, hobbies, lifestyle, sports
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
History
From the concept that a pitch thrown very close to a batter will remove some dust or dirt from the batter's uniform either by brushing against it or causing a breeze very close to it, or alternatively by the batter jumping away from the pitch to avoid being hit.
