play hardball
Use aggressive tactics
To play hardball is to act aggressively and ruthlessly to achieve one's goals, especially in business or politics.
The expression comes from baseball, where hardball distinguishes the standard game from softball, which uses a larger, softer ball and is considered less intense.
The union decided to play hardball during contract negotiations.
Someone who plays hardball prioritizes winning over maintaining good relationships or following unwritten rules of civility.
Borrowed capital for amplified returns
- ultimatumNon-negotiable final terms
- brinkmanshipPushing conflicts to disaster's threshold
- standoffUnresolved confrontation between opponents
- impasseSituation without resolution
stalemate · counteroffer · concessions · dealmaker · demands · walkout · hardliner · non-negotiable
Lacking any compassion
- cutthroatViciously competitive or murderous
- hardnosedUnsentimental and inflexible
- relentlessContinuing without pause
- mercilessShowing no clemency
unyielding · tough · forceful · no-holds-barred · take-no-prisoners · bare-knuckle · brutal · fierce
Viciously competitive or murderous
- rivalOne who competes against
- outmaneuverDefeat through superior tactics
- opponentOne who contends against
- one-upmanshipQuest to surpass others
outsmart · outplay · showdown · face-off · head-to-head · winner-take-all · high-stakes · undercut
Habitual intimidator
- threatenPromise harm or punishment
- coerceObtain by intimidation
- pressureForce upon contact
- strong-armCoerce through intimidation
bluff · posturing · saber-rattling · muscle · browbeat · railroad · steamroller
leverage
Borrowed capital for amplified returns
- ultimatumNon-negotiable final terms
- brinkmanshipPushing conflicts to disaster's threshold
- standoffUnresolved confrontation between opponents
impasse · stalemate · counteroffer · concessions · dealmaker · demands · walkout · hardliner · non-negotiable · terms
ruthless
Lacking any compassion
- cutthroatViciously competitive or murderous
- hardnosedUnsentimental and inflexible
- relentlessContinuing without pause
merciless · unyielding · tough · forceful · no-holds-barred · take-no-prisoners · bare-knuckle · brutal · fierce · uncompromising
cutthroat
Viciously competitive or murderous
- rivalOne who competes against
- outmaneuverDefeat through superior tactics
- opponentOne who contends against
one-upmanship · outsmart · outplay · showdown · face-off · head-to-head · winner-take-all · high-stakes · undercut · knockout
bully
Habitual intimidator
strong-arm · bluff · posturing · saber-rattling · muscle · browbeat · railroad · steamroller
- sports idiomsdrop the ball, throw in the towel, slam dunk, out of left field, hit it out of the park
- footballfootball, touchdown, field goal, quarterback, end zone
- powerauthority, electric power, nuclear power, solar power, wind power
- baseballbat, pitchers, catchers, pitcher, glove
- Competition idiomsdown to the wire, neck and neck, win hands down, come from behind, in the running
- power idiomspull strings, hold sway, call the shots, throw weight around, upper hand
play hardballgo easy
Be gentle or lenient
play nice · pull punches · compromise · play ball · meet halfway
play hardballbe gentle
Act with care
be kind · turn the other cheek · kill with kindness · coddle · pamper
play, player, playful, playing, played, baseball, plays, playfully, playfulness