play hardball

Idioms  

1. 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.

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Example Sentences

“It’s not about whether we play hardball anymore. It’s about how we play hardball,” Gov. Gavin Newsom said on a press call Wednesday.

From Salon

“It’s not a tactic to say we’re going to play hardball. It’s just stupid,” McNicholas said.

From Los Angeles Times

But for the best outcome, he says, India will have to "play hardball. Basically, tell the US - we're open to negotiations on other fronts, but don't destabilise our agriculture".

From BBC

Meanwhile, DirecTV decided to play hardball this Tuesday by launching a $69.99-a-month “MySports” streaming bundle, which would bring together “more than 40 sports and broadcast channels” to customers in at least 24 U.S. cities for now, per Front Office Sports.

From Slate

Harold Daggett, the leader of the ILA, was prepared to play hardball, telling workers on a picket line on Tuesday night, “nothing’s gonna move without us.”

From Salon