ballpark figure

ballpark figure

Meaning

• to be near about the exact (usually in amount)
• an estimate of what the actual figure will be like

Example Sentences

1. The management was given a ballpark figure at the very beginning of the presentation.
2. She manages to give her father a ballpark amount that she would need every week.
3. I have donated this ballpark figure to the children's aid this morning.
4. Even a ballpark figure to this number is going to hurt our overall numbers very badly this quarter.
5. I save a ballpark figure of 20% from my salary every month as something for the rainy day.
6. Do you know that the making of this building cost a ballpark figure of 1 million US dollars?
7. I need a ballpark figure that will be required for this project so that the management can make further business and finance decisions.
8. The ballpark figure has been allocated among all the shareholders, when the company liquidated.

Origin

The origin of this phrase comes from how a commentator would give an estimate of the number of audiences by just looking around. Speculated to have started in America through baseball but it is now a popular way of speaking throughout the world.