General
on deck
What does on deck mean?
Borrowed from baseball — the order coming up right after the one currently firing. Lets the line pre-grab proteins, drop pasta, start the sauce so there's no gap between tickets.
"Firing table four — table seven on deck."
Origin
Baseball — the next batter waits in the on-deck circle. Bled into kitchen, sports, and general English through the 20th century.
Frequently asked questions
What does 'on deck' mean in baseball?
It means being the next batter due to hit; that player warms up in the on-deck circle while the current batter is up.
Where does 'on deck' come from?
It's borrowed from nautical language, where a sailor 'on deck' is up and ready to work next.
What is the on-deck circle?
It's the designated warm-up spot near home plate where the next hitter takes practice swings and times the pitcher.
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