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pitch

PITCH /pɪtʃ/

nvB2TOEFL

neutralbusiness

(n) A proposal or suggestion, especially one for a business idea or a story to be published. (v) To make such a proposal.

Implies a concise, persuasive presentation aimed at convincing someone (an editor, client, investor) to accept an idea or project.

The story behind the word. The word 'pitch' has a surprisingly diverse etymological journey, with several distinct origins converging. The sense of 'to throw' or 'to set up' comes from Old English 'piccean' or 'pician', related to 'to prick' or 'to fix'. The modern sense of 'a sales or story proposal' is a much newer development, emerging in the early 20th century, likely from the idea of 'pitching' an idea forward or 'pitching' a tent (setting something up) for consideration. It implies a forceful or direct presentation.

Word relationships

proposal: More formal and detailed than a 'pitch', which can be a brief initial offering.
suggestion: Less formal and less persuasive than a 'pitch'.
presentation: A broader term for showing information, a 'pitch' is a type of persuasive presentation.

Commonly confused with

report: A 'pitch' is an attempt to get an idea accepted, while a 'report' is a factual account of something that has already happened or been investigated.

Word family

pitcher (n): One who pitches (in various senses, e.g., baseball).

Collocations

make a pitch
elevator pitch
sales pitch
pitch an idea
successful pitch

Idioms & expressions

pitch in (to help)

Example sentences

"The freelance writer sent a compelling pitch to the editor, outlining her idea for an article on sustainable fashion." In a journalistic context.
"He spent weeks refining his business plan before pitching it to potential investors." As a verb.
"The advertising agency will pitch their new campaign to the client next Tuesday." Describing the act of selling.

Memory hook

Imagine 'pitching' a baseball directly to an editor, hoping they 'catch' your idea for a story. Pitch an idea

When not to use

Do not use 'pitch' when referring to a casual suggestion without a specific persuasive intent or formal presentation.

Fun facts

The term 'elevator pitch' refers to a very brief, persuasive pitch that could be delivered in the time it takes to ride an elevator.