hardball

[hahrd-bawl]

noun

1. baseball, as distinguished from softball.

adjective

1. tough or ruthless.

   He wasn't ready for the hardball politics of Washington.

2. outspoken, challenging, or difficult.

   Reporters asked the president some hardball questions.

hardball

/ ˈhɑːdbɔːl /

noun

1. baseball as distinct from softball

2. informal,  to act in a ruthless or uncompromising way

Word History and Origins

Origin of hardball¹

First recorded in 1825–35; hard + ball ¹

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

1. play hardball, to act or work aggressively, competitively, or ruthlessly, as in business or politics.

Example Sentences

The Dodgers easily swept the best-of-three duel with the overmatched Reds on Wednesday at Dodger Stadium with a frolicking 8-4 victory … just in time to uneasily hike into the home of heated hardball.

From Los Angeles Times

The council said the restriction only referred to adult hardball cricket and argued the decision was based on "advice received from professional and legal advisors".

From BBC

He was pressed by the committee chair, Dame Meg Hillier, on exactly which firms were "playing hardball", but they are yet to be named.

From BBC

In response, he said, Democrats have to stop thinking about “whether or not we should play hardball,” and start focusing on “how we play hardball.”

From Los Angeles Times

They may even make Republicans regret their hardball gerrymandering tactics, if the party ends up with districts that political scientists like me call “dummymandered.”

From Salon