left field

American  

noun

1. Baseball.

   1. the area of the outfield to the left of center field, as viewed from home plate.

   2. the position of the player covering this area.

2. Slang. a position or circumstance that is remote from an ordinary or general trend.

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idioms

1. out in left field, completely mistaken; wrong.

left-field British  

adjective

1. informal regarded as being outside the mainstream; unconventional

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left field More Idioms  

1. see out in left field.

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Etymology

Origin of left field

An Americanism dating back to 1855–60

Example Sentences

Rushing’s 385-foot blast to left field and Teoscar Hernández’s RBI single made it 9-1 in the eighth.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 20, 2026

During the 2025 World Series against the Toronto Blue Jays, he played every game, mostly in left field.

From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 12, 2026

Mosaku: Ryan explained the movie to me in and around the scene, and my mind was blown because it made complete sense, but it came completely out of left field for me.

From Los Angeles Times • Dec. 18, 2025

But Chalamet's final pick of someone who demonstrated British greatness comes totally out of left field.

From BBC • Dec. 16, 2025

I told her I didn’t have anybody in left field.

From "Nine Stories" by J. D. Salinger

Related Words

• disproportionate
• improper
• incorrect
• irrelevant
• tasteless
• unseemly
• unsuitable
• wrong