Definition of strike out

The origin of the phrase "strike out" can be traced back to the late 1800s in the context of baseball. During a game, if a batter swings and misses four times in a row, he is said to have "struck out." The origin of the term "strike" in baseball is somewhat debated, but it likely comes from the way the ball was delivered by the pitcher. In the mid-1800s, the ball was pitched underhand, and the batter was expected to hit it on the ground. If the ball hit the dirt before reaching the batter, it was called a "strike." In the 1880s, the rules of baseball were changed to allow for an overhand pitch, and the strike zone was expanded. This change led to more strikes being called, and the term "struck out" became associated with a batter's failure to make contact with the ball. Outside of baseball, the term "strike out" has come to mean any attempt that fails miserably. In poker, for example, "strike out" refers to drawing no cards that help a person's hand, resulting in a loss. Similarly, in pool or other games of strategy, "strike out" is used to describe a missed shot or an unsuccessful attempt to sink a ball. In summary, "strike out" originated in baseball as a way to describe a batter's failure to make contact with the ball, but it has since taken on a broader meaning to describe any attempt that falls short of success.