pinch hit
Sub at plate
Pinch hit comes from baseball, where a pinch hitter substitutes for another batter, typically at a crucial moment.
The phrase has generalized to mean filling in for someone temporarily: Can you pinch hit for me at the meeting tomorrow?
The substitution implies stepping in when needed rather than permanent replacement.
Temporary substitute person
- stand-inTemporary human placeholder
- backupStored duplicate for recovery
- replacementWhat takes another's place
- step inInvolve oneself to help
cover for · relief · substitute · temp · last-minute · emergency · short notice · helping out
Athlete who plays multiple positions
- late inningsFinal portion of game
- clutchMechanism linking engine to gearbox
- batting orderSequence of hitters
- platoonSmall infantry formation
lineup · bench player · role player · at-bat · batting average · on-deck circle · double switch · bench depth
fill-in
Temporary substitute person
- stand-inTemporary human placeholder
- backupStored duplicate for recovery
- replacementWhat takes another's place
step in · cover for · relief · substitute · temp · last-minute · emergency · short notice · helping out · take over
utility player
Athlete who plays multiple positions
- late inningsFinal portion of game
- clutchMechanism linking engine to gearbox
- batting orderSequence of hitters
platoon · lineup · bench player · role player · at-bat · batting average · on-deck circle · double switch · bench depth · dugout
- substitutessubstitute, subs, replacement, substitutes, stand-in
- battingbatting, batter, batsman, bat speed, batting average
- baseball tacticsdouble steal, pickoff, steal, sacrifice bunt, squeeze play
- helpingaid, assist, give a hand, help, helping hand
- baseballbaseball, bat, pitchers, catchers, pitcher
- filling infilling in, cramming, inserting, stuffing, packing