up the middle
Down the gut
Up the middle describes movement or action through the center rather than around the edges.
In baseball, a hit up the middle passes between the pitcher and second base.
In football, a run up the middle goes through the center of the offensive line.
The phrase extends to any direct, straightforward approach: We're not going to finesse this—we're going straight up the middle.
- centerMiddle of anything
- dead centerPrecise middle point
- straightNot curved or crooked
- straight aheadIn a line, unchanged direction
- throughFrom start to finish
ground ball · split · gap · core · direct · bisect · fairway · lane · gut · heart · charge · rush · full steam · drive · power play · central · between · interior
- middle infielders2B, shortstop, second baseman, Derek Jeter, Cal Ripken Jr.
- battingbatting, batter, batsman, bat speed, batting average
- middle infieldsecond baseman, shortstop, second base
up the middlesweep
Brush clean with broom
end run · wide · down the line · end around · outside
up the middlemisdirection
Intentional focus manipulation
reverse · trick play · play-action · option play · counter
up the middleend run
Evasive tactic avoiding direct confrontation
flanking maneuver · indirect approach · workaround · going around · side door