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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

Etymology

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.