hardball

Related to hardball: play hardball

hardball

Aggressive behavior in pursuit of some goal. Typically used in the phrase "play hardball," meaning to engage in such behavior. We still haven't been able to reach an agreement—they're playing hardball with us, sir.

play hardball (with one)

To be ruthless, aggressive, or harsh (with one) in order to achieve a certain result, especially compared to previous, less aggressive tactics. I think it's time we play hardball with the suspect—he's not going to talk otherwise. We're prepared to play hardball with the company if it means we'll be paid the appropriate amount for our work.
See also: hardball, play
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.

play hardball (with someone)

Fig. to act strong and aggressive about an issue with someone. Things are getting a little tough. The president has decided to play hardball on this issue. If he wants to play hardball with us, we can play that way, too.
See also: hardball, play
McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs.

play hardball

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.
See also: hardball, play
The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer.

play hardball

mainly AMERICAN
If someone plays hardball, they will do anything that is necessary to achieve or obtain what they want, even if this involves being harsh or unfair. In past deals, Mr. Peng has shown he's willing to play hardball. The White House decided to retaliate by taking jobs away from his state, showing they were tough guys who could play hardball. Compare with play ball. Note: Hardball is the same as baseball, and is here being contrasted with softball, in which a larger, softer ball is used and the ball is thrown underarm.
See also: hardball, play
Collins COBUILD Idioms Dictionary, 3rd ed.

play hardball

use uncompromising and ruthless methods. informal
In North America, hardball is literally baseball, especially as contrasted with softball.
2000 Environmental History The fact that Hayden wielded this unprecedented influence demonstrates that even at age 89 he was capable of playing hardball when the situation demanded it.
See also: hardball, play
Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary

play ˈhardball

(especially American English) used to refer to a way of behaving, especially in politics, that shows that a person is determined to get what they want: It’s time to play hardball with the unions. He’s playing hardball with a client of mine.
See also: hardball, play
Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary

play hardball (with someone)

tv. to act strong and aggressive about an issue with someone. Things are getting a little tough. The president has decided to play hardball on this issue.
See also: hardball, play, someone

play hardball

verb
See play hardball with someone
See also: hardball, play
McGraw-Hill's Dictionary of American Slang and Colloquial Expressions

play hardball

Behave aggressively and competitively, act ruthlessly. The term comes from baseball, where it is used to distinguish the normal ball from the somewhat larger and softer ball used in softball. It began to be used figuratively in the 1970s. A New York Times article about Senate majority leader Bill Frist, pointing out that he needs to enlist support from Democrats, quoted him saying, “I can play hardball as well as anybody.”
See also: hardball, play
The Dictionary of Clichés by Christine Ammer
See also:
  • sexual misconduct
  • wouldn't put it past someone
  • I wouldn't put it past (someone)
  • I wouldn't put it past somebody
  • code of practice
  • practice
  • on a slippery slope
  • a slippery slope
  • slippery slope
  • slippery slope, a
References in periodicals archive
Caption: Muzzle rises from .45 hardball shot one handed in early Army qual.
LEARNING FROM HISTORY: HANDGUN QUALIFICATIONS
Here's a recent example of The Hardball Times' approach: A tongue-in-cheek set of alternative careers for current MLB players, including Texan Adam Dunn, who could replace the oversized Big Tex statue (bigtex.com/sft/AboutUs/BigTex.asp) at the State Fair of Texas, and one of your Field Correspondent's all-time favorites, Adrian Beltre, as a job site foreman, "a guy who gets greasy in the sprockets and gears but who also knows his place atop the hierarchy, a guy who jokes with his underlings but who also stares a hole through their foreheads whenever they're late...."
Cards and blogs: the non-serious side of baseball
They are best used as target pistols only and not set up for hardball. Just the same, I have included the specifications for heavy springs for heavy loads.
Colt Gold Cup: Browning's 1911 has been around a long time and plenty of references are available, as well as misinformation and misinterpretation. This is especially true with the Colt Gold Cup
The hardball approach is far more effective and more quickly resolves night wakings, but some parents find the idea of it intolerable.
Hardball, softball strategies help night wakings
A reception for Chris Matthews, a 1967 graduate of the College of the Holy Cross in Worcester and host of MSNBC's "Hardball" and NBC's "The Chris Matthews Show," took place in the Hogan Campus Ballroom of the college.
Chris Matthews receives key to city
Brown: Time for MLB to Play Hardball on the Texas Rangers Sale (http://bizofbaseball.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=4309:brown-time-for-mlb-to-play-hardball-on-the-texas-rangers-sale&catid=26:editorials&Itemid=39)
ESPN Sees Highest Viewed First Round of NFL Draft
Major retailers have played hardball for a while, pretending to help the environment, while really just squeezing extra cash out of customers.
Bags of trouble for shoppers
Holy Land Hardball, a hilarious documentary about Bara's quixotic quest directed by Brett Rapkin and Erik Kesten, offers an inside look at this crackpot attempt to bring baseball and Eretz Yisrael together The film opens with Baras in Israel, visiting the Wailing Wall in 2007.
Holy Land Hardball
Newcastle City Library will host the authors Monday February 22 when American author Sara Paretsky will chat about her latest novel Hardball: Everyone Plays Dirty.
Meet the authors; NORTH TODAY: CULTURE
In "Hardball," she writes about the ugly race relations that existed in Chicago during the 1960's, something she experienced first-hand when she was doing community service there in 1966.
Hardball
On smug shows like Hardball, liberals gasp self-righteously about the assassination of abortionist George Tiller in Kansas and the shooting at the Holocaust Museum in Washington, D.C.
Liberalism
Past residents include Beau Willimon (Lower Ninth), Rob Handel (Milicent Scowlworthy) and Victoria Stewart (Hardball).
Another U.S./Britain exchange
The "Hardball" host was there, like so many others before him, simply to hype his new book, "Life's a Campaign." Stewart was after him right from the start.
Jon Stewart Dismantles Chris Matthews
The lawyer for the Roman Catholic archdiocese hoped that it could have been resolved "much earlier"--sure, if they had not played hardball and pulled all their delay tactics.
Reimburse
The Hardball Times Baseball Annual 2007 brings together two groups of the national pastime's most ardent devotees--opinionated, articulate sports columnists and rational, slide-rule-wielding statisticians.
It's baseball bliss when you play hardball