the.com/ballpark
A number vague enough to be safe, specific enough to sound smart.
means An approximate figure or range given as a rough estimate rather than an exact calculation.
from Straight from baseball: a 'ballpark' is the stadium itself. By the mid-20th century, Americans started using 'in the ballpark' to mean 'within a reasonable range' — like a hit that lands somewhere inside the park rather than wildly foul. 'Ballpark figure' followed, turning the stadium's boundary into a metaphor for acceptable estimation.
- origin
- from literal baseball stadium size estimates
- usage
- lets you guess without committing
- business trick
- always round so you can blame rounding
- range
- wide enough to always be technically right