back the wrong horse meaning: to make the wrong choice; to support the wrong thing (from horse racing) -It was only after we had invested all the money that we discovered we’d been backing the wrong horse bat a thousand meaning: to something extremely well and better than you had hoped to it -Gloria felt she was batting a thousandwhen she saw her boss beat the gun meaning: to something before the ending signal of a game etc -Tom tried to beat the gun, but he was one second too slow ball is in someone’s court meaning: it is up to this person to make the next move (from tennis) -The ball’s in your court now You something I can’t anything as long as the ball is in Marc’s court blow the whistle on (someone) meaning: to reveal information about someone -The secretary blew the whistle on her boss after he wasted much money in his call the shots meaning: to control something, to make the rules -Why you have to call all the shots? Do what you are told I’ll call the shots choose sides meaning: to select from a group to be on opposing sides for a debate, fight, or game -Let’s choose up sides and play basketball The children chose up sides and began the game cover all of one’s bases meaning: to thoroughly prepare for or deal with a situation -The man covered all of his bases before going to the job interview and performed very well off base meaning: wrong mistaken (baseball) -You are way off base if you think I was to blame! play ball with meaning: to cooperate with someone -The burglar refused to play ball with the police and he was taken to the police station for questioning dive in headfirst meaning: to something impulsively without thinking about the consequences -George likes to dive in headfirst with everything that he does