Immediately or without delay; from the very beginning or start of something.
This American phrase originates from baseball, referring to the moment a ball leaves the bat after being hit. First recorded in the 1880s during baseball's rise in popularity, it emphasizes the immediate action following contact. The phrase captures the split-second timing between bat meeting ball and the ball's trajectory.
Baseball has given English an remarkable number of expressions, and this one perfectly captures American culture's appreciation for immediate action and quick results. The phrase is distinctly American - British English equivalents like 'straight away' or 'from the off' reflect different cultural metaphors for immediacy.
Complete word intelligence in one call. Free tier — 50 lookups/day.