on deck
Idioms-
Available, ready for action, as in We had ten kids on deck to clean up after the dance . [ Slang ; second half of 1800s]
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In baseball, scheduled to bat next, waiting near home plate to bat, as in Joe was on deck next . [1860s] Both usages allude to crew members being on the deck of a ship, in readiness to perform their duties.
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Shortly after enduring a series of winter storms that damaged roads and flooded businesses, Southern Californians may be pleased to learn that blue skies and toasty temperatures are on deck as possible record-setting heat sweeps into the region this week.
From Los Angeles Times
As spring progresses, the Dodgers will continue to dial them up with precaution, especially at the start of the season when more hands on deck are required because some pitchers are still building up their stamina.
From Los Angeles Times
“Here I was thinking, ‘Well, Ohtani’s on deck, so he doesn’t want to walk him.’
From Los Angeles Times
Batting ninth, with Shohei Ohtani on deck, Rojas stepped into the box with the goal of getting to first base.
From Los Angeles Times
"I want to enjoy tonight with my teammates but make no mistake we'll be all hands on deck," he said.
From Barron's
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
