play ball

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See synonyms for play ball on Thesaurus.com

Cooperate, as in The opposing attorneys refused to play ball with us. [Slang; c. 1900]

Get going, start, as in It's time to get a move on; let's play ball. This usage comes from the baseball umpire's call to start a game. [Slang; late 1800s]

QUIZ

THINGAMABOB OR THINGUMMY: CAN YOU DISTINGUISH BETWEEN THE US AND UK TERMS IN THIS QUIZ?

Do you know the difference between everyday US and UK terminology? Test yourself with this quiz on words that differ across the Atlantic.

Question 1 of 7

In the UK, COTTON CANDY is more commonly known as…

candystring

candyfloss

candypuff

TAKE THE QUIZ TO FIND OUT

Words nearby play ball

play around, play at, play a waiting game, playback, playback head, play ball, playbill, playbook, play both ends against the middle, playboy, playbroker

How to use play ball in a sentence

In addition, because House Democrats were cut out of the negotiations over the bill, they don't feel any incentive to play ball.
Nancy Pelosi Plays Hardball On Cromnibus|Ben Jacobs|December 11, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Then, she seemed to imply, maybe the Democrats would play ball.
The B Is Back: The Benghazi Hearings Are Bullsh*t|Michael Tomasky|May 7, 2014|DAILY BEAST
And they would probably think, as Norm Ornstein noted above, why should they play ball with 2016 coming?
Here’s What Happens When the GOP Takes Over the Senate|Michael Tomasky|April 30, 2014|DAILY BEAST
He needs to play ball—and if he does, the YouTube gods will probably smile on him.
Stephen Colbert and the Viral Video-Fueled Generation Hijack Late Night|Jason Lynch|April 11, 2014|DAILY BEAST

Still, the Obama administration signaled that it would play ball.
The Day the Mad Dogs Took Over the Republican Party|Michael Tomasky|October 11, 2013|DAILY BEAST
It had rained in the morning, and of course the grounds were too slippery and wet to play ball.
Lulu, Alice and Jimmie Wibblewobble|Howard R. Garis
"We must win through, and I guess I'll play ball with my father-in-law," quoth Pyne to himself as he followed.
The Pillar of Light|Louis Tracy
I can't see what he finds to admire in Hodge, though the fellow can fight and play ball.
Frank Merriwell's Chums|Burt L. Standish
But it was not long before the children came; so, wanting an active hour, I began to play ball with them.
Beggars|W. H. (William Henry) Davies
The Indian children play ball, and shoot arrows, and race with their ponies.
Harper's Young People, April 19, 1881|Various

play ball

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How to use play ball in a sentence