swinging for the fences
Going all out
Swinging for the fences means attempting something bold or ambitious, accepting higher risk for a bigger payoff.
The phrase comes from baseball, where batters who swing for the fences try to hit home runs rather than safer base hits.
We're not playing it safe—we're swinging for the fences with this product launch.
The implication is usually admiring, though it can suggest recklessness when the gamble fails.
- home runFull-circuit scoring hit
- strikeoutBatter retired on pitches
- audacityBrazen, reckless daring
- determinationFirmness of purpose
- boldnessFearless readiness to act
batter · batting practice · breakthrough · moon shot · shoot the moon · gamble · high risk high reward · vision · big leagues · ambition · courage · grand slam · upper deck · innovation · all-or-nothing · go big or go home · full send · strategy
- metaphors for overachievementgoing the extra mile, raising the bar, going above and beyond, overdelivering, overperforming
swinging for the fencesplaying it safe
Avoiding unnecessary risk
bunting · risk aversion · settling for less · erring on the side of caution · half measures
swinging for the fencesgoing through the motions
Performing without genuine effort
phoning it in · holding back · coasting · mailing it in · sandbagging
swinging for the fencessettling
Reaching resolution or rest
bunting · settling for less · managing expectations · underachieving · coasting
swing, swings, swinger, swingers, fence, fences, fenced, fencer, fencers