Does anybody help me understand what "punches the ball to right" mean?
I was reading a book "How to get ideas" by Jack Foster. In the second chapter, "Be more like a child," there are the following sentences.
"The adult in you wears a belt and suspenders and looks both ways before crossing the road. The child in you goes barefoot and plays in the street. The adult punches the ball to right. The child swings for the fences."
I can understand that it is good to be like a child to get an idea, but I don't understand this part: The adult punches the ball to right. The child swings for the fences.
Does anyone help me? Thank you!
towel slide 182The adult punches the ball to right. The child swings for the fences.
These are baseball references. To punch the ball to right is to hit the ball with your bat so that it goes into right field. To swing for the fences is to swing the bat with all your might trying for a home run, trying to hit the ball beyond the far boundary of the field.
towel slide 182The child swings for the fences
"swing for the fences" can be used both literally and figuratively as an idiomatic expression. In the given context, it is used figuratively, but the writer has also included "punches the ball to right", which is not very idiomatic, to match the next baseball idiomatic expression so that they make a good pair of contrasting statements.
The basic idea is that children are more energetic and are ready to passionately expend effort to achieve their goals even when there is not much chance of success, while adults are more conservative, cautious or risk-averse.swing for the fences
1. baseball Literally, to put all one's power into one's swing while batting so as to try to hit a home run. All they need is two more runs to win the game, so you can bet their star batter will come out swinging for the fences.2. By extension, to put forward one's maximum amount of effort or energy (into or toward something); to act or perform with great intensity or effort. I wasn't sure about their state-appointed lawyer at first, but I was well impressed when he came out swinging for the fences on day one of the trial. [Freedictionary.com]
Ah! That's the baseball context! Thank you very much! I see it now!
Thank you, Persian Learner, for your great descriptions! It makes perfect sense now! I appreciate your help!