play hardball

Idioms and Phrases

Act aggressively and ruthlessly, as in It's only a month before the election, and I'm sure they'll start to play hardball . This term originated in baseball, where it alludes to using the standard ball as opposed to the slightly larger and minimally softer ball of softball. It was transferred to describe aggressive behavior only in the 1970s.

Example Sentences

Jones will have to play hardball with the generals as well as the diplomats and soft-power advocates.

From The Daily Beast