played ball
Agreed to participate
Played ball is the past tense of play ball, which means to cooperate or go along with what someone wants.
The phrase comes from the literal sense of participating in a ball game, but its figurative use dominates: The witness refused to play ball with prosecutors.
Someone who played ball agreed to terms, followed rules, or collaborated when asked.
- ballerSlang for skilled player
- collaboratedWorked jointly with others
- went alongProceeded with others
- conformedActed according to expectations
- negotiatedReached terms through discussion
cooperated · compromised · assisted · teamwork · soccer · volleyball · partnership · participated · agreed · tennis · camaraderie · cricket · rugby · dodgeball · supported · golf · pickup game · handball
played balldefied
Openly resisted authority
resisted · stonewalled · pushed back · obstructed · held out
played ballhardballed
Acted uncompromisingly aggressive
played hardball · drove a hard bargain · drew a line in the sand · stood pat
play, ball, plays, played, playing, player, players, playful, playfully