ballgame Hear it!

ballgame Definition

☆ ball·game (bôl′gām′)

noun

  1. a game played with a ball; specif., a baseball game
  2. any contest
  3. Informal a set of circumstances a different ballgame

ballgame Idioms

(whole) new ballgame

Etymology: ? from use in baseball, as when a score has become tied

Informal

a situation changed so drastically as to need new approaches or solutions

the (whole) ballgame

Informal

the main or decisive factor, event, etc.

ballgame Usage Examples

Adjective modifier

  • whole: Running the myriad of applications we expect from a computer is a whole different ballgame.
  • different: Running the myriad of applications we expect from a computer is a whole different ballgame.