Hardball
noun
A way of behaving in a tough or forceful way to achieve something.
The company played hardball during the negotiations.
Often appears as...
- play hardball
- play hardball with
Usage tips
Idiomatic
noun
A game similar to baseball, using a small, hard ball.
Let's play a game of hardball this weekend.
Often appears as...
- play hardball
- game of hardball
noun
A way of behaving in a tough or forceful way to achieve something.
The company played hardball during the negotiations.
Often appears as...
- play hardball
- play hardball with
Usage tips
Idiomatic
noun
A game similar to baseball, using a small, hard ball.
Let's play a game of hardball this weekend.
Often appears as...
- play hardball
- game of hardball
Definition 1 of 2
Pro Tip 1/3Tough Negotiations
Indicates a no-compromise attitude in discussions or deals.
He's playing hardball to get the best contract.
Pro Tip 2/3Assertive Tactics
Implies using strong, confident strategies to persuade others.
She is known for playing hardball with competitors.
Pro Tip 3/3Serious Intent
Shows a serious determination to achieve an objective.
When they started playing hardball, we knew negotiations were serious.
Pro Tip 1/3Tough Negotiations
Indicates a no-compromise attitude in discussions or deals.
He's playing hardball to get the best contract.
Pro Tip 2/3Assertive Tactics
Implies using strong, confident strategies to persuade others.
She is known for playing hardball with competitors.
Pro Tip 3/3Serious Intent
Shows a serious determination to achieve an objective.
When they started playing hardball, we knew negotiations were serious.
Pro Tip 1/3Tough Negotiations
Indicates a no-compromise attitude in discussions or deals.
He's playing hardball to get the best contract.
Pro Tip 2/3Assertive Tactics
Implies using strong, confident strategies to persuade others.
She is known for playing hardball with competitors.
Pro Tip 3/3Serious Intent
Shows a serious determination to achieve an objective.
When they started playing hardball, we knew negotiations were serious.
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Video examples
The Dalai Lama And...
political world and I play hardball Tibetans we see China in a different way our perspectives very different we have live side by side for thousands of years so we kind of know them better than
Video examples
Life at 30,000 feet PIPE...
To do all this, you must have been a genius from the get-go, right? Well, I won't contradict that. OK, this isn't exactly hardball. OK.
Video examples
The Dalai Lama And...
political world and I play hardball Tibetans we see China in a different way our perspectives very different we have live side by side for thousands of years so we kind of know them better than
Video examples
Life at 30,000 feet PIPE...
To do all this, you must have been a genius from the get-go, right? Well, I won't contradict that. OK, this isn't exactly hardball. OK.
Example 1 of 2
Quote examples
Mordecai Brown
American Athlete
Dad played with me a great deal, as dads should do, and our chief sport was baseball. He bought me a hardball when I was three years old, and he used to sit in a rocker on the front porch while I sat on the grass in the yard, and we'd play catch by the hour.
Quote examples
Gary Herbert
American Politician
When it comes down to hardball, we have a veto pen, and I've used it in the past, and I expect we will have opportunity to use it in the future. That's the nature of the business.
Quote examples
Joe Morgan
American Athlete
I don't see myself as a Larry King or somebody. When you do interviews, sometimes it turns to interrogations. I'm more of a conversationalist, not throwing hardball questions.
Quote examples
Hans Haacke
German Artist
Artists and art institutions have to learn how to play hardball. A democratic society needs a democratic art and we have a right to demand it.
Quote examples
Ileana Ros-Lehtinen
American Politician
Rogue regimes never respond to anything less than hardball.
Quote examples
Juan Martin del Potro
Argentinian Tennis Player
I come to play hardball at every event I play.
Quote examples
Kirstie Alley
American Actress
When I play ball, I play hardball.
Quote examples
Mordecai Brown
American Athlete
Dad played with me a great deal, as dads should do, and our chief sport was baseball. He bought me a hardball when I was three years old, and he used to sit in a rocker on the front porch while I sat on the grass in the yard, and we'd play catch by the hour.
Quote examples
Gary Herbert
American Politician
When it comes down to hardball, we have a veto pen, and I've used it in the past, and I expect we will have opportunity to use it in the future. That's the nature of the business.
Quote examples
Joe Morgan
American Athlete
I don't see myself as a Larry King or somebody. When you do interviews, sometimes it turns to interrogations. I'm more of a conversationalist, not throwing hardball questions.
Quote examples
Hans Haacke
German Artist
Artists and art institutions have to learn how to play hardball. A democratic society needs a democratic art and we have a right to demand it.
Quote examples
Ileana Ros-Lehtinen
American Politician
Rogue regimes never respond to anything less than hardball.
Quote examples
Juan Martin del Potro
Argentinian Tennis Player
I come to play hardball at every event I play.
Quote examples
Kirstie Alley
American Actress
When I play ball, I play hardball.
Example 1 of 7
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