1
play hardball (with sb)
这是最常见的用法，意为“采取强硬态度”，与棒球比赛无关。
The union is ready to play hardball with management.
工会准备对管理层采取强硬态度。
强硬态度；强硬手段
先理解核心含义，再看它在真实句子里的用法。
强硬态度；强硬手段
a no-nonsense attitude in business or politics
The union is ready to play hardball with management.
工会准备对管理层采取强硬态度。
棒球运动中与垒球相对的一种球和棒球比赛。
In baseball, a type of ball and baseball game, as opposed to softball.
强硬或无情的做法,尤指在战斗、政治或商业中。
Tough or ruthless behavior, especially in combat, politics or business.
The union is playing hardball in the wage negotiations, so the talks may take a long time.
工会正在工资谈判中采取强硬手段，因此会谈可能会持续很久。
After months of friendly discussion, the landlord suddenly started playing hardball over the rent.
在几个月的友好磋商后，房东突然在租金问题上开始采取强硬手段。
In the business world, you sometimes have to play hardball to get the best deal.
在商界，有时你必须采取强硬态度才能争取到最好的交易。
这是最常见的用法，意为“采取强硬态度”，与棒球比赛无关。
The union is ready to play hardball with management.
工会准备对管理层采取强硬态度。
hardball 可直接修饰名词，表示“强硬的、不妥协的”，如 hardball politics、hardball negotiating。
Her hardball tactics surprised the committee.
她的强硬策略让委员会感到意外。
此处指“硬式棒球”，区别于垒球 softball。
We spent the afternoon watching a game of hardball.
我们一下午都在看一场硬式棒球赛。
Not this
He played hardball to his opponent.
Use this
He played hardball with his opponent.
play hardball 表示“采取强硬手段/强硬对待”时是固定搭配，后接对象用 with，不用 to；with 引出与某人打交道或对抗的对象。
Not this
They played hardballs during the negotiation.
Use this
They played hardball during the negotiation.
这里的 hardball 是不可数名词，指“强硬手段/强硬态度”，不能加复数；play hardball 是固定短语，hardball 保持单数/不可数形式。
Not this
The company decided to play a hardball with the union.
Use this
The company decided to play hardball with the union.
play hardball 是固定短语，前面不加冠词 a/an/the；加了 a 会错误地把 hardball 当成可数名词，在此语境中指“强硬手段”，应直接使用 play hardball。
Focus on the distinctions below. Other candidates are kept compact until a reliable usage note is available.
采取强硬手段；来硬的
The company decided to play hardball in the contract dispute.
公司在合同纠纷中决定采取强硬手段。
强硬策略
Management's hardball tactics angered the workers.
管理层的强硬策略激怒了工人。
强硬政治手段
She is known for her hardball politics.
她以强硬的政治手段著称。
强硬谈判
After months of hardball negotiation, the two sides finally reached an agreement.
经过数月的强硬谈判，双方终于达成协议。
尖锐而直接的问题
The journalist's hardball questions made the politician uncomfortable.
记者尖锐而直接的问题让这位政客感到不安。
采取强硬手段；来硬的
The union is ready to play hardball with management.
工会准备对管理层采取强硬手段。
强硬策略；强硬手段
He used hardball tactics to win the contract.
他用强硬策略赢得了这份合同。
强硬政治；强硬做派
Washington is known for hardball politics.
华盛顿以强硬政治著称。
Use hardball naturally, then get feedback on meaning, tone, grammar, and phrasing.
Revisit a common error or keep this word in your review list.
记 hardball = hard（硬）+ ball（球）：硬式棒球，引申为“玩硬的”，即强硬手段。
语域：mixed 常见场景：business negotiation、political campaign 这里指「强硬手段、强硬态度」这一义项，常见搭配为 play hardball。该说法通常用于商务或政治讨论，语气偏非正式，但并非粗俗；正式书面语可考虑用 uncompromising tactics。
作“强硬手段”解时通常不可数。
Dictionary facts from ECDICT, WIKTIONARY.