Hardball
[hahrd-bawl] /ˈhɑrdˌbɔl/
noun
1.
baseball, as distinguished from softball.
adjective
2.
tough or ruthless:
He wasn’t ready for the hardball politics of Washington.
3.
outspoken, challenging, or difficult:
Reporters asked the president some hardball questions.
Idioms
4.
play hardball, to act or work aggressively, competitively, or ruthlessly, as in business or politics.
/ˈhɑːdbɔːl/
noun
1.
(US & Canadian) baseball as distinct from softball
2.
(informal, mainly US & Canadian) play hardball, to act in a ruthless or uncompromising way
n.
1883 as the name of a game, from hard + ball (n.1). The figurative sense of “tough, uncompromising behavior” is from 1973.
modifier
: fields hardball questions in a practice TV interview/ despite his hardball attitude toward sponsors of offensive TV shows
noun
Serious and consequential activity, work, etc; perilous and responsible doings: It’s hardball now, it’s not games anymore/ It’s going to be hard ball. We’re talking about physicians losing income
verb
play hardball (1973+)
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