play ball

Idioms  

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

2. 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]

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Example Sentences

“I just have to give all of Ole Miss a ‘thanks,’” Chambliss said, “for letting me come here to play ball.”

From The Wall Street Journal

The administration benefited greatly from the quick decision of most trading partners to play ball—with the exception of China and, albeit briefly, Canada.

From Barron's

In the third inning, Betts fielded what could have been an inning-ending double play ball, but his relay from shortstop was wide of second baseman Tommy Edman.

From Los Angeles Times

“During that time we got know each other,” said Davis, who left home to play ball when he was teenager.

From Los Angeles Times

That was definitely the sense from her first brief interview in the role on Monday, in which she repeatedly vowed to do "whatever it takes" to tackle illegal immigration, suggested she could withdraw visas from countries that do not "play ball" on migrant returns and embraced the potential introduction of ID cards - all in clear, plain language.

From BBC