American tv

[penlid]

In american tv shows what does it mean when they say '1st base' etc. thanks

[Whickerman]

It's a baseball-based sexual reference. You may know that baseball involves getting from the home plate back to the home plate through three other bases. You only score when you get through first, second and third base, back to home. First base is kissing/petting, 2nd is under the shirt action, third is below the waist, and a home run is, well, a home run. You get the picture.

[jno]

the reference may be non-sexual; not getting past first base may just mean falling at the first hurdle.

[Whickerman]

fair point jno - in my house there are a lot of teenage tv shows on and that's where I most hear the reference, but you're of course correct.