go to bat for someone
Meaning
To support, defend, or advocate for someone, especially when they need help or face criticism.
Origin
From baseball: a teammate βgoes to batβ by stepping up to the plate to help the team. Figuratively, it came to mean stepping up to defend or advocate for another person.
Notes
Supportive, proactive tone: stepping in to defend or advocate, sometimes implying confrontation. Common in casual and workplace contexts; not very formal.
Examples
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Iβll go to bat for you with the manager if the deadline is unrealistic.
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She went to bat for her coworker when the rumor started spreading.
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Can you go to bat for me and explain what really happened?
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His agent went to bat for him during contract negotiations.
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Thanks for going to bat for us when the policy changes were announced.
Grammar & Usage Notes
Usually: go/went/has gone to bat for + person/pronoun. The βforβ phrase is required; βgo to batβ alone is less common. Tense changes with βgo.β
Synonyms
- stand up for someone
- back someone up
- defend someone
- advocate for someone
- speak up for someone
Antonyms
- abandon someone
- throw someone under the bus
- leave someone to fend for themselves