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Hardball: meaning, definitions and examples

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hardball

 

[ ˈhɑːdbɔːl ]

Noun
Context #1 | Noun

play

A tough or uncompromising attitude or approach in a situation.

Synonyms

aggressive tactics, tough approach, uncompromising attitude

Examples of usage

  • He played hardball in the negotiation, refusing to make any concessions.
  • The manager's hardball tactics alienated many of his employees.
  • The company's hardball stance on pricing led to a loss of customers.
  • The politician's reputation for playing hardball earned him respect but also criticism.
  • She decided to play hardball with her competitors to maintain market dominance.

Translations

Translations of the word "hardball" in other languages:

🇵🇹 jogo duro

🇮🇳 कठोर खेल

🇩🇪 hartes Spiel

🇮🇩 permainan keras

🇺🇦 жорстка гра

🇵🇱 twarda gra

🇯🇵 ハードボール

🇫🇷 jeu dur

🇪🇸 juego duro

🇹🇷 sert oyun

🇰🇷 하드볼

🇸🇦 اللعبة الصعبة

🇨🇿 tvrdá hra

🇸🇰 tvrdá hra

🇨🇳 硬球

🇸🇮 trda igra

🇮🇸 hörð leikur

🇰🇿 қатты ойын

🇬🇪 მძიმე თამაში

🇦🇿 sərt oyun

🇲🇽 juego duro

Word origin

The term 'hardball' originated in baseball, where it refers to the style of play characterized by aggressive and competitive tactics. The metaphorical use of 'hardball' to describe a tough or uncompromising attitude or approach in various situations emerged in the mid-20th century, reflecting the intensity and assertiveness associated with the sport. Over time, 'hardball' has become a common expression in business, politics, and other areas to describe a no-nonsense and competitive approach.

See also: hard, harden, hardening, harder, hardliner, hardly, hardness, hardship, hardships, hardware, hardy.

Word Frequency Rank

Ranking #36,765, this word is encountered relatively rarely in everyday English. It might appear in literary works or specialized texts but isn't essential for general communication.