play ball
Idioms-
Cooperate, as in The opposing attorneys refused to play ball with us . [ Slang ; c. 1900]
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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]
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Still, with more American buyers demanding this type of transparency, Chinese trading companies have to play ball or risk losing business, lawyers say.
From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 28, 2026
“During that time we got know each other,” said Davis, who left home to play ball when he was teenager.
From Los Angeles Times • Oct. 28, 2025
During the match, supporters in the stands held signs, including "Pawol making HERstory," and "the time has come for one & all to play ball".
From BBC • Aug. 9, 2025
He added that “If…universities do not play ball, lawyer up, because the federal government is coming after you.”
From Salon • May 20, 2025
“His real name is Martin. Used to play ball for the Knicks.”
From "The Boy in the Black Suit" by Jason Reynolds
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
