American English is a vibrant language with a host of dialects, regional variations and colorful historical idioms. Many of our idioms come straight from the world of sports.
When someone speaks of making a “fast break” for something when they are moving quickly without pause or concern, or hitting a “home run” when they do a good job, or being “down for the count” when someone gives up and quits something - it’s usually universally clear what they mean.