Bat away means: To knock an object, usually a ball, away from oneself.. There is no real cause for parental concern; it is descriptive vocabulary rather than risky behaviour. If your teen uses it, context will usually make the intent clear. A short, curious question about where they heard it is usually all that is needed to know whether to follow up.
bat away
To knock an object, usually a ball, away from oneself.
Definitions
#1·Apr 27, 2026
To knock an object, usually a ball, away from oneself.
The ball can still be batted away with one or both hands. It can be batted from a player's hands or batted away during a shot.
For parents
Bat away means: To knock an object, usually a ball, away from oneself.. There is no real cause for parental concern; it is descriptive vocabulary rather than risky behaviour. If your teen uses it, context will usually make the intent clear. A short, curious question about where they heard it is usually all that is needed to know whether to follow up.
For ESL learners
bat away means: To knock an object, usually a ball, away from oneself.. Register: neutral, standard English. A common learner mistake is using the word in a register it does not fit, or assuming a single global meaning; native speakers immediately notice when slang appears in formal contexts, so always check the surrounding register before producing it yourself. A formal-English equivalent (a synonym or descriptive phrase) is usually safer in writing. When in doubt, paraphrase rather than reuse the slang form.
Cluster: disagree
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#2·Apr 27, 2026
To avoid by diverting the focus of a discussion.
For his part, Hank Paulson, the US Treasury Secretary - asked about the impact of US energy policies on food prices on Friday - tried to bat away the question.
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#3·Apr 27, 2026
(US, baseball, of a batter) To use one's own judgment to aggressively swing at pitches, rather than following a coaches instructions.
The ball can still be batted away with one or both hands. It can be batted from a player's hands or batted away during a shot.
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For specific readers
Why is this section here?
Slang is read by different audiences for very different reasons. The For parents view re-explains the term in plain, non-judgemental language so a caregiver can understand what their child means without needing the surrounding subculture. The For English learners view focuses on register (when it's safe to use), formal alternatives, and common mistakes — what a textbook won't teach you.
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Other words near "bat away" (B)
bastard operator from hellbastard toadflaxbastillebasunbat and ballbatashabatchmatebatcrapbat deepbate an aceBATFbatfolder
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