working the refs
Lobbying the umpires
Working the refs is attempting to influence officials through persistent complaints, hoping they'll make favorable calls later.
Borrowed from sports, where coaches and players pressure referees, it now applies to any sustained campaign to bias decision-makers: Politicians work the refs by constantly accusing journalists of unfair coverage.
The strategy assumes that perceived grievances, even unfounded ones, will affect future judgments.
- blowMove air forcefully
- callContact by phone
- bad callErroneous judgment or decision
- lobbyingAdvocating to decision-makers
- gaslightingManipulation causing self-doubt
influencing · persuasion · disputing · spin · framing · nudging · mind games · coach · ingratiating · protesting · pressuring · bargaining · shout · manipulating · coercion · priming · leveraging · advocacy
working the refskeeping quiet
Remaining silent
suffering in silence · letting it go · moving on · acquiescing · good sportsmanship
work, working, works, worked, worker, workers, workable, rework, reworking