Play hardball

How it is used

Often used for negotiations, internal politics, or supplier discussions. It can sound critical, suggesting pressure, strict tactics, or little flexibility.

Example sentences

1. The vendor started playing hardball after we asked for longer payment terms, so legal reviewed every clause before the next call.

   Here, playing hardball shows that the vendor used tougher tactics and reduced flexibility to push the company toward its preferred terms.

2. If procurement plays hardball on price again, we may lose the consultant who has already cut her rate twice.

   In this sentence, plays hardball means pressing aggressively on price instead of balancing cost with the need to keep the relationship workable.

Common collocations

• play hardball in negotiations
• play hardball on price
• play hardball with suppliers

Related terms

• negotiateTo discuss something formally with another side in order to reach an agreement both can accept, for example on price or contract terms.
• compromiseAn agreement in which each side gives up part of what it wanted so that both can accept the result. Also used as a verb.

More terms: Office Idioms and Phrases

• touch base
• heads-up
• on the same page
• keep me posted
• ballpark figure
• bandwidth
• circle back
• low-hanging fruit
• get the ball rolling
• back to the drawing board
• drop the ball
• on my radar