Home run
What it means
An outstanding success or an especially effective result.
Reach for it when giving upbeat informal praise after the outcome is known
The shaded playground was a home run with children and caregivers.
Words to choose between 6
| playful | |
|---|---|
| warm | |
| professional | |
| formal |
-
playful
smash hit
Fits when wide popularity is the evidence of exceptional success
Careful Smash hit is entertainment-focused and can overstate early or local approval.
-
playful
Fits when an option proves effective and well liked
Careful Winner suggests competition and can sound like prediction before results arrive.
-
warm
Fits when the achievement overcame real difficulty and deserves celebration
Careful Triumph is grand and can imply victory over others where none was needed.
-
professional
Fits when the result crosses a barrier that blocked earlier attempts
Careful Breakthrough concerns novelty or progress, not necessarily broad success.
-
professional
resounding success
Fits when multiple clear measures show a strong result
Careful The phrase needs evidence and is too emphatic for a promising pilot.
-
formal
coup
Fits when a difficult strategic achievement brings unusual advantage
Careful Coup can imply maneuvering, surprise, or another party's defeat.
Opposites 3
- strikeout
- flop
- failure
Common phrases 3
-
hit a home run
The team hit a home run by testing the route with wheelchair users before construction.
-
real home run
The evening bus proved a real home run for hospital staff.
-
home run idea
A home run idea still needs a budget and a responsible owner.
Usage notes
Keep in mind
Home run is figurative and evaluative; identify whose outcome improved and what evidence supports the success claim.
Definitions and examples are written for this site. How words are chosen Recording: Commander Keane, Australian accent, from Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0 Updated