pinch-hit for

pinch-hit

1. In baseball or softball, to bat in place of another player. Let Ben pinch-hit—he's a better hitter than Paul, and you really need to knock in some runs here. In a surprise move, the rookie is going to pinch-hit for the veteran batter.
2. By extension, to do something in place or on behalf of someone else. I have a doctor's appointment this afternoon, so I need you to pinch-hit for me on the conference call. I'm afraid I can't make it to the meeting, so my second in command will be there pinch-hitting for me.

pinch-hit for (someone)

1. In baseball or softball, to bat in place of another player. Let Ben pinch-hit for Paul—Ben's the better hitter, and you really need to knock in some runs here. In a surprise move, the rookie is going to pinch-hit for the veteran batter.
2. By extension, to do something in place or on behalf of someone else. I have a doctor's appointment this afternoon, so I need you to pinch-hit for me on the conference call. I'm afraid I can't make it to the meeting, so my second in command will be there pinch-hitting for me.
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.

pinch-hit for someone

 
1. Fig. to bat for someone else in a baseball game. Wally Wilson will pinch-hit for Gary Franklin. Rodney Jones is pinch-hitting for Babe DiMaggio.
2. Fig. to substitute for someone in any situation. Bart will pinch-hit for Fred, who is at another meeting today. Who will pinch-hit for me while I am on vacation?
McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs.
See also:
  • pinch-hit
  • pinch-hit for (someone)
  • power hitter
  • home run
  • pinch hitter
  • reach first base
  • knock up
  • knocked up
  • bad-ball hitter
  • hitter
References in periodicals archive
Daniel Palka pinch-hit for Kevan Smith with nobody out in the sixth inning Friday when right-hander Dillon Maples relieved Jose Quintana, a lefty.
Palka blasts into record books
Edwards, on the other hand, will pinch-hit for Dozier, who was out of the Aces' first game because of plantar fasciitis on his foot.
Texters, Aces test imports
teams to pinch-hit for pitchers with impunity, although said teams are less likely now.
Pinch hitting
In 1960, Hardy pinch-hit for an injured Ted Williams - he hit a foul ball off his foot - and is the only player to pinch hit for Williams, and replaced Williams in left after he homered in his final at-bat.
Is Will subject to some jinx?
When a team is either trailing or threatening to score, many skippers pinch-hit for the pitcher, especially in the later innings, and these situations were noted.
Revisiting Nolan Ryan in 1973: the quest for 400 strikeouts
In the course of tying the game in the ninth, Frank Demaree, a reserve outfielder, pinch-hit for the relief pitcher, Bob Smith.
August 31, 1932: day of the ineligible player
Chief Cabinet Secretary Yasuo Fukuda tops the list of five ministers to pinch-hit for Prime Minister Yoshiro Mori should the premier become incapacitated, Fukuda said Tuesday.
Spokesman Fukuda tops list of Mori's pinch-hitters
Other diet bars--like Nestle Sweet Success, Jenny Craig, Zone Perfect, Pounds Off, and Atkins Diet Advantage--are also designed to pinch-hit for a meal or snack when you don't have time for the real thing.
BEHIND BARS
But, for those times when you're unavailable, you can employ some reliable substitutes to pinch-hit for you.
Make yourself accessible
With only four outs remaining and his club trailing by a run, Padres manager Preston Gomez used Cito Gaston to pinch-hit for Kirby with two outs in the eighth.
Manager lacking sense of drama
Glen Gorbous on April 24, 1955, while playing for the Cincinnati Reds, pinch-hit for Johnny Temple in the seventh inning and was called out on strikes.
Anomalies of protested and suspended baseball games
Mike Lowell, who pinch-hit for Ortiz in the seventh inning Tuesday, was the DH against left-hander Matt Harrison and hit his first home run of the year off him in the second inning.
McDonald no 2-hit wonder
In the bottom of the ninth inning, Alvis pinch-hit for pitcher Bobby Tiefenauer and cracked a two-run homer to tie the game 3-3.
Former Indian Max Alvis a hard-nosed third baseman: one-time infielder for Cleveland played nine seasons in the majors while being selected to two All-Star teams
Sean Casey pinch-hit for Mike Lowell in the eighth and got a nice ovation, although many of the 39,958 fans had left by then.
Rotation keeps on roll; Pitching staff continues to hurl quality starts
The Red Sox were losing 6-3 in the bottom of the eighth inning when I pinch-hit for Roger Moret.
Bernie Carbo: the game I'll never forget: former N.L. Rookie of the Year and Red Sox outfielder recalls pinch-hit home run that tied Game 6 of 1975 World Series