hit a home run

Meaning

Originating from baseball, this casual idiom means to achieve a massive success or produce an outstanding result. It is widely used outside of sports to describe a highly successful presentation, product launch, creative project, or idea. The tone is enthusiastic, positive, and informal.

Examples

• The studio really hit a home run with their latest animated movie; it's a huge box-office hit.

  The studio really hit a home run with their latest animated movie; it's a huge box-office hit.

• Her stand-up comedy special hit a home run, earning rave reviews from critics worldwide.

  Her stand-up comedy special hit a home run, earning rave reviews from critics worldwide.

• We hit a home run with the new game design; players absolutely love the multiplayer mode.

  We hit a home run with the new game design; players absolutely love the multiplayer mode.

• If we can sign this actor for the lead role, we'll definitely hit a home run.

  If we can sign this actor for the lead role, we'll definitely hit a home run.

• His pitch to the producers hit a home run, and they greenlit the series on the spot.

  His pitch to the producers hit a home run, and they greenlit the series on the spot.

Common Mistakes

• ✗ The new show made a home run.

  ✓ The new show hit a home run.

  The correct verb to pair with home run in this idiom is hit or sometimes knock (e.g., knock it out of the park), not make.

• ✗ We hit home run with our video.

  ✓ We hit a home run with our video.

  Do not forget the indefinite article a before home run.

Related Expressions

Practice

• The marketing team hopes their new viral video campaign will ___.

  💡 be a massive success

  Show answer

  hit a home run

• With that incredible performance, the young singer really ___.

  💡 achieved outstanding success

  Show answer

  hit a home run