English Reference
Idiom idiom

bush league


A professional sports association at the lower levels of minor league organization.

Meaning adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.


SIMPLE

He played in the bush league for two years before getting called up.

CONTEXTUAL

After a brief stint in the bush league, the young pitcher finally joined the major league team.

COMPLEX

Though he had dominated the bush league with a blazing fastball, he found the step up to the majors humbling.


Related idioms3entries
  1. 01

    beat around the bush

    To treat a topic, but omit its main points, often intentionally.

  2. 02

    beat the bushes

    Synonym of pound the pavement (“to campaign diligently; to seek something”).

  3. 03

    bush telegraph

    A system used by undeveloped societies in remote regions for communication over long distances, such as drum sounds, word-of-mouth relay, or smoke signals.

Last updated August 10, 2026