hardball
hardball Lexical Profile
hardball Game Scores & Validity
• noun
North American Uncompromising, aggressive, or ruthless methods and dealings, especially in politics or business (often used in the phrase 'play hardball').
"When the initial merger talks stalled, the executive board decided it was time to play hardball."
North American The game of baseball, as distinguished from softball.
"After playing recreational softball for years, he joined a local amateur hardball league."
• adjective
North American Uncompromising, aggressive, and tough, especially in business or political dealings.
"The union adopted a hardball negotiating strategy to secure better pension benefits."
• Nearby Words
Word Origin & Etymology
Coined in late 19th-century American English as a compound of 'hard' and 'ball' to distinguish traditional baseball from softball, which uses a larger, softer ball. The figurative sense of uncompromising political or business tactics emerged in the 1970s via the idiom 'to play hardball'.
Usage Trend
Historical frequency of usage in published text.