Meaning & use
double play
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Meaning
nouncountablesport
In baseball, a single continuous defensive action in which two players on the batting team are put out.
Grammar: Countable: one double play, two double plays.
Patterns
- turn a double play
- hit into a double play
- a 6-4-3 double play
The shortstop started a double play to end the inning.
With runners on first and second, the batter hit into a double play.
Their infield turns a double play better than any other in the league.
Word forms
| plural | double plays |
|---|
Common combinations
- turn a double play
- The second baseman and shortstop turned a double play to get two outs.
- hit into a double play
- He hit into a double play with the bases loaded.
- start a double play
- The third baseman started a double play with a quick throw to second.
- a 6-4-3 double play
- The scorebook showed a 6-4-3 double play: shortstop to second base to first base.
Synonyms and how they differ
- twin killing
- Informal American baseball slang for the same play; use 'double play' in neutral writing.
Word family
- double up phrasal verb
- In baseball, to make two outs on one play, or more generally to share or combine.
Commonly confused: double play or doubleheader?
double play vs doubleheader
A doubleheader is two games played one after the other on the same day, not two outs in one play.
Practice
With a runner on first, the batter grounded to the shortstop, who began a ____ to get two outs.
Choose one answer.
A double play is the two-out defensive sequence. A doubleheader is two games, and a home run or foul ball does not describe two outs.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “double play”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.