ball game

American  

Or ballgame

noun

1. any game played with a ball, especially baseball or softball.

2. Informal. a situation and all its attendant circumstances.

   Having a new administration in power changes the entire ball game at city hall.

3. Archaeology. a ceremonial game of both ritual and sporting significance, played by teams on a ball court in Mesoamerican cultures from the Preclassic period to the Spanish conquest.

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ball game British  

noun

1. any game played with a ball

2. a game of baseball

3. informal a situation; state of affairs (esp in the phrase a whole new ball game )

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Etymology

Origin of ball game

An Americanism dating back to 1840–50

Example Sentences

"I didn't want to lose the opportunity to play Venus, but it's a whole different ball game playing Jess," Jones said.

From BBC

We couldn’t play a real ball game, and we hadn’t gotten to Four-Cornered Cat yet.

From Literature

"But then they found messages on his telephone, and that was a whole different ball game."

From BBC

But safety concerns over the years have led to bans on rollerblading and ball games.

From BBC

That was why she hated getting a fish first go: it was like finishing a ball game after one catch.

From Literature