English Idiom of the Day: Ballpark figure

Ballpark figure/In the ballpark

a ballpark figure:

an estimate

in the ballpark:

approximately

※ This phrase is taken from baseball. The baseball ballpark is a wide area, so a “ballpark” figure is a number that is not exact but in the general area.

Example 1:

“So what will upgrading our office network cost?”

“Unfortunately, we cannot give the exact cost until we have examined the building.”

“Can you give me a ballpark figure?”

“Well, it will likely be $4000 for a company of your size.”

Example 2:

“My kitchen caught fire last night. No one was hurt, but it’s going to cost me in the ballpark of $1000.”

Example 3:

Apple’s revenue for this year has still not been released, but a ballpark figure of $260 billion is expected.