hardball
No-compromise competitive approach
Hardball is baseball, as distinguished from softball.
The figurative sense dominates: to play hardball is to use aggressive, uncompromising tactics, especially in politics or business negotiations.
The union decided to play hardball with management.
Someone who plays hardball prioritizes winning over diplomacy or fairness.
Pouring vessel or hurler
- catcherMasked diamond position
- fastballMaximum-speed baseball throw
- curveballPitch with spin-induced arc
- sliderAdjustable interface element
home run · strikeout · double play · inning · batter · umpire · diamond · glove
Hostile and confrontational
- ruthlessLacking any compassion
- mercilessShowing no clemency
- unyieldingRefusing to give way
- confrontationalInclined toward hostile encounters
coercive · intimidating · relentless · forceful · cutthroat · no-holds-barred · bare-knuckle · hardline
Organized effort toward goal
- lobbyingAdvocating to decision-makers
- smearSpread or defame
- opposition researchInvestigating adversaries for damaging information
- attack adsNegative campaign commercials
spin · mudslinging · filibuster · strongarm · backroom · horse-trading · realpolitik · partisan
pitcher
Pouring vessel or hurler
- catcherMasked diamond position
- fastballMaximum-speed baseball throw
- curveballPitch with spin-induced arc
slider · home run · strikeout · double play · inning · batter · umpire · diamond · glove · mitt
aggressive
Hostile and confrontational
- ruthlessLacking any compassion
- mercilessShowing no clemency
- unyieldingRefusing to give way
confrontational · coercive · intimidating · relentless · forceful · cutthroat · no-holds-barred · bare-knuckle · hardline · uncompromising
campaign
Organized effort toward goal
- lobbyingAdvocating to decision-makers
- smearSpread or defame
- opposition researchInvestigating adversaries for damaging information
attack ads · spin · mudslinging · filibuster · strongarm · backroom · horse-trading · realpolitik · partisan · hardline
- baseballbat, pitchers, catchers, pitcher, glove
- negotiationbargaining, bargain, negotiate, mediation, compromise
- approachesapproach, approaches, method, methods, way
- intimidationthreats, threatening, menacing, intimidate, bullying
- negotiationsbargaining, offer, counteroffer, counter offer, compromise
- sports idiomsthrow in the towel, slam dunk, out of left field, level playing field, hit it out of the park
hardballsoftball
Variant with larger ball
kid gloves · velvet glove · playing nice · diplomacy · compromise
- played hardballCompeted without mercy
- playing hardballUsing ruthless tactics
- play hardballCompete without mercy