ENGLISH
REFERENCE

go to bat

idiom
Meaning

To champion, to actively assist, to provide support (for someone).


Examples
SIMPLE

My manager is always willing to go to bat for me.

CONTEXTUAL

When the department faced budget cuts, our director went to bat for us to ensure we kept our funding.

COMPLEX

Despite the intense political pressure to remain silent, the senator went to bat for the local community, championing their cause against the powerful corporation.

Anchors to
Related idioms8entries
  1. 01

    all dressed up and nowhere to go

    Elaborately attired or otherwise fully prepared for an anticipated situation or activity which, nevertheless, fails to occur.

  2. 02

    all systems go

    Everything is ready.

  3. 03

    as you go

    While one is doing (something); as one progresses.

  4. 04

    bat a thousand

    To achieve success at each attempt.

  5. 05

    bat an eyelid

    To react in any slight way; to respond; to care.

  6. 06

    bat five hundred

    To be successful half of the time; to have a success rate of 50%.

  7. 07

    bat for the other team

    To be homosexual.

  8. 08

    bat one's eyes

    To signal or feign by fluttering one's eyelids, as romantic interest.

© 2026 English Reference