PUTTING THE OUTS Meaning and
Definition
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"Putting the outs" is a colloquial phrase used mainly in sports, particularly baseball and softball, referring to the act of completing a play by recording the necessary number of outs. In these games, each team has a turn to bat and a turn to field. When a team is playing defense, their objective is to put the outs, meaning they aim to record the required number of outs to end the opposing team's turn at bat and gain control to take their own turn at the plate.
To "put the outs," a defensive player or team must successfully eliminate each batter from the opposing team in a specific manner. In baseball, for instance, three outs are required to complete an inning and switch the teams' roles. Typically, the defensive team achieves this by either catching a batted ball in the air (fly out), fielding a hit ball and throwing it to the designated base before the runner arrives (force out), or tagging a runner while they are off their base (tag out).
The phrase can also be used metaphorically outside of sports to depict the completion or resolution of a task or situation. It implies achieving the necessary actions or steps to reach a desired outcome, much like how each completed out brings the defensive team closer to transitioning into the offensive position.
Common Misspellings for PUTTING THE OUTS
