strike out

strike out

1. Lit. [for a baseball batter] to be declared out after making three strikes. (Baseball.) •

And so Drew Wilson strikes out for his second time in this game!

•

He struck out in the second inning, and the manager took him out then.

2. Fig. to fail. •

Well, we struck out again, but we'll keep trying.

•

I hear you struck out on that Acme proposal. Better luck next time.

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{v.} 1. To destroy something that has been written or drawn by drawing a line or cross through it or by erasing it. * /John misspelled "corollary. " He struck it out and wrote it correctly./ 2. To begin to follow a new path or a course of action that you have never tried. * /The boy scouts struck out at daybreak over the mountain pass./ * /John quit his job and struck out on his own as a traveling salesman./ 3. To put (a batter) out of play by making him miss the ball three times; also: To be put out of play by missing the ball three times. * /The pitcher struck out three men in the game./ * /The batter struck out twice./ 4. To push out an arm suddenly in a hitting motion. * /The boxer saw his chance and struck out at his opponent's jaw./