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ballpark figure
01
the approximate value or amount of something
What is the origin of the idiom "ballpark figure" and when to use it?
The idiom "ballpark figure" is derived from the idea of a ballpark, where sports games are played and spectators often make rough estimates of the number of people in attendance. It is often used to provide a rough, approximate numerical value when an exact or precise figure is not available or necessary.
Example
When asked about the cost of the home renovation, the contractor gave a ballpark figure of $20,000 to $25,000.
We need a ballpark estimate of how many attendees to expect at the conference to make appropriate arrangements.
The project's completion date is still a few months away, but we can provide a ballpark figure for planning purposes.
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