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

The 54-year-old has not shied away from a bold time-frame, as a result, even if this is obviously a very different ball game.

From BBC

But holding hands … on purpose … is another ball game entirely.

From Literature

As I understood it, off the base he was also very popular—at the grocery store, church, ball games, and the like—in the White part of the community.

From Literature

“And I didn’t want to bore you. You said you wanted to go home and watch a ball game on TV.”

From Literature

“We are in an entirely new ball game.”

From Literature