play hardball
Meaning: To work or act aggressively, competitively, or ruthlessly, as in business or politics.
Language: English
Literally: (Already vivid in English)
Category: Daily Life
Origin: The expression originates from the game of baseball, which uses a hard ball, as opposed to the similar game of softball.
More idioms — Daily Life
- play one's cards right — To do all the right things and make all the right moves in order to achieve some end.
- play second fiddle — To be in a subordinate position; to have a lower rank or standing than someone else.
- pop the question — To ask someone to get married.
- pound of flesh — A (figuratively) painful payment of a debt.
- pull oneself up by one's bootstraps — To improve oneself (usually economically) without help from others.
- pull rank — To take advantage of one's superior position (one's rank).
More English idioms
- pull something off — To accomplish something that had appeared difficult to finish or achieve.
- pull strings — To use one's influence.
- pull the rug out from under someone — To abruptly ruin someone's plans or expectations.
- pull the wool over someone's eyes — To deceive or fool someone.
- pull up stakes — To collect one's household belongings and leave one's house or property; to move to anoth…
- put all one's eggs in one basket — To invest all one's hopes or plans in only one possible outcome.
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