bat

/bæt/

a flying mammal with wings

The bat flew silently through the night sky.

This describes the nocturnal activity of bats.

◆ What It Really Means

The idiom 'blind as a bat' means extremely nearsighted, though bats are not actually blind.

¶ Literal Meaning

The phrase 'blind as a bat' would literally mean having the eyesight of a bat, which is actually quite good in low light.

Literal Breakdown

blindunable to see+assimilar to+a batthe flying mammal

◇ Mental Image

The mental image of a bat, often associated with darkness and poor vision, leads to the idiom's meaning.

◈ When to Use

Someone might say, 'Without my glasses, I'm blind as a bat,' to humorously describe their poor vision.

◉ Cultural Note

The idiom likely originates from the misconception that bats are blind, though they actually have good night vision.

general

a small flying mammal with wings, typically nocturnal and feeding on insects

Bats use echolocation to navigate in the dark.

This explains how bats find their way without light.

Bats are the only mammals capable of sustained flight.

Sports

a piece of sports equipment used in baseball or cricket to hit the ball

He swung the bat and hit a home run.

This describes using a baseball bat to score.

Baseball bats are typically made of wood or metal.

general

a tool used to strike something, such as a hammer or mallet

He used a bat to break open the crate.

This describes using a bat as a tool.

This usage is less common than the sports equipment meaning.

Collocations

bat cavea place associated with bats, often used metaphoricallybat signala symbol used to summon a superhero, popularized by Batman

Synonyms

flying mammal baseball bat club

Related Phrases

blind as a batidiom

extremely nearsighted

bat out of hellidiom

someone moving very quickly

Pro Tip

Context Matters

The meaning of 'bat' depends on the context. In nature, it refers to the animal, while in sports, it refers to the equipment.

Gold Rule

Primary Meanings

The two most common meanings are the flying mammal and the sports equipment. Other uses are less frequent.

Word Origin

Old English 'bæt', possibly from Proto-Germanic 'batō', related to Old Norse 'bata' and Old High German 'batta'.

Usage Notes

The word 'bat' can refer to both the animal and the sports equipment, so context is important.

Word Breakdown

bat

flying mammal or sports equipment

root

English Dictionary

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