1 A2 neutral
To push or knock something away from you with a swift hitting motion.
"She batted away the mosquitoes as she tried to read."
separable
bat away
B1 neutral separable transitive
To deflect, dismiss, or push something aside with a batting movement; to ward off questions or criticism.
In plain English
To push something away by hitting at it; to refuse to deal with questions or criticism by avoiding or dismissing them.
What does "bat away" mean?
3 meanings, ordered from most common to least. Color-coded by CEFR level.
2 B1 idiomatic neutral
To deflect or dismiss questions, criticism, or challenges without addressing them directly.
"The minister batted away every difficult question at the press conference."
separable
3 B1 informal
To continue hitting or striking repeatedly without stopping (keep batting away).
"He kept batting away at the piñata until it finally broke open."
inseparable
Literal vs figurative
Words literally mean
Transparent in the physical sense — to strike (bat) something in a direction away from you.
Actually means
To push something away by hitting at it; to refuse to deal with questions or criticism by avoiding or dismissing them.
Usage tip
Used literally for physical deflection (e.g. batting away insects or a ball) and figuratively for deflecting questions, criticism, or unwanted attention. Common in journalism to describe politicians or celebrities avoiding questions.
Words that pair with "bat away"
Natural word combinations native speakers use most often.
questions criticism concerns flies suggestion accusation
How to conjugate "bat away"
The five tense forms you'll use most often.
Base
bat away
I/you/we/they
3rd person
bats away
he/she/it
Past simple
bated away
yesterday
Past participle
bated away
have + pp
-ing form
bating away
continuous
Hear "bat away" in the wild
Listen to native speakers using "bat away" in real YouTube videos — click a clip to watch it on Looplines.
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