played hardball
Took no prisoners
Played hardball means negotiated or competed aggressively, using tough tactics rather than compromise.
From baseball (hardball versus softball), it suggests serious, no-nonsense engagement where you exploit every advantage: The union played hardball during contract negotiations.
If they won't cooperate, we'll have to play hardball.
- gloves offFighting without restraint
- forcefulnessPowerful assertive quality
- competitionStruggle for supremacy
- intimidationDeliberate fear-inducing pressure
- assertivenessConfident self-expression quality
rivalry · softball · coercion · curveball · strong-arm · take no prisoners · no mercy · tactics · compromise · manipulation · no-holds-barred · bare-knuckle · brass knuckles · retaliation · dominance · negotiation tactics · confrontation · escalation
played hardballplayed nice
Acted agreeable and friendly
took it easy · compromised · soft-pedaled · bent over backwards · handled with kid gloves
play, plays, playing, player, players, played, playful, playfully, playfulness