First, second, and third base refer to various stages in the game of baseball. Home run, or home base, is the ultimate stage.

All of these terms also refer to various levels of success in any activity, where first base refers to minor success, and home run refers to achieving a goal in a big way.

All of these terms also refer to various stages in a romantic or sexual relationship, where first base refers to kissing, and home run refers to full sexual intercourse.

When someone says: He didn’t get anywhere, not even to first base, they mean something like:

We learn by our mistakes.