# ground ball with eyes

idiom

Source: https://englishreference.com/idiom/ground-ball-with-eyes
Updated: 2026-08-10

## Meaning

A weakly hit ground ball that barely evades the infielders.

## Examples

- The batter hit a ground ball with eyes that rolled into center field.
- The shortstop dove for the ball, but it was a ground ball with eyes that found a gap in the defense.
- In a game defined by hard hits, the winning run scored on a lucky ground ball with eyes that just barely eluded the diving second baseman.

## Origin

The term arises from the metaphor of a ball possessing eyes, which suggests a degree of visual agency that allows it to navigate between infielders. The personification implies the ball is actively choosing a path to avoid capture.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.