bottom of the ninth
Last batting opportunity
The bottom of the ninth is the final half-inning of a baseball game, when the home team bats.
Because the home team trails or the game is tied—otherwise it would already be over—the phrase carries a sense of last-chance urgency.
Figuratively, to be in the bottom of the ninth means time is running out: We're in the bottom of the ninth on this project.
Victory-clinching final play
- inningBaseball game segment
- pitcherPouring vessel or hurler
- batterUncooked cake mixture
- home runFull-circuit scoring hit
strikeout · bullpen · catcher · umpire · dugout · double play · pinch hitter · relief pitcher
Final desperate attempt
- do-or-dieDesperately crucial situation
- make-or-breakDetermining ultimate success
- eleventh-hourAt the latest possible moment
- high-stakesInvolving significant consequences
decisive · crucial · pivotal · cliffhanger · pressure · comeback · dramatic · nail-biter
walk-off
Victory-clinching final play
home run · strikeout · bullpen · catcher · umpire · dugout · double play · pinch hitter · relief pitcher · grand slam
last-ditch
Final desperate attempt
- do-or-dieDesperately crucial situation
- make-or-breakDetermining ultimate success
- eleventh-hourAt the latest possible moment
high-stakes · decisive · crucial · pivotal · cliffhanger · pressure · comeback · dramatic · nail-biter · down to the wire
- baseballbaseball, bat, pitchers, catchers, pitcher
- sports slangalley-oop, buzzer beater, clutch, dunk, slam dunk
- battingbatting, batter, batsman, bat speed, batting average
- walk-offswalk-off hit, walk-off homer, walk-off single, walk-off grand slam
bottom of the ninthearly days
Initial period of development
square one · fresh start · day one · no rush · opening act
bottom, bottoms, bottomed, bottoming, bottomless, ninth, ninths, ninety, nineties