play hardball | Idiomator

Meaning: (idiomatic,informal)Touseevery means possible toachieveagoal,especiallyindisregardingtheharmcaused.He was more than willing to extend the terms of the loan, but his boss decided toplay hardballand demanded a balloon payment.; (idiomatic,informal)Toactroughandruthless, especially inbusinessorpolitics.So you wannaplay hardball?2021October 6, Christian Wolmar, “Both sides must work together to get London back on track”, inRAIL, number941, page35:But if ministers keep onplaying hardballwith TfL because of narrow party interests, London will lose out. Forcing a 4.8% rise on London fares will only encourage congestion at a time when the roads are already full and public transport is underused.

Examples:

EN: And if he refuses, you'll just have to play hardball.
ES: ¡Y si no puede por las buenas, pues por las malas!
EN: So I play hardball.
ES: Así que juego duro.
EN: I can play hardball with Tyler any time.
ES: Puedo jugar rudo con Tyler en cualquier momento.
EN: You want to play hardball, Briggs, we can play hardball, too.
ES: Briggs, ¿quiere ser implacable? Nosotros también podemos serlo.
ES: Briggs, ¿quiere ser implacable? Nosotros también podemos serlo.
EN: Just because I had to play hardball in court doesn't mean you have to get so angry about it.
ES: No deberías enfadarte sólo porque fui implacable en el juicio.
EN: Yes, play hardball with him. That's what he deserves!
ES: Patadas en el culo y demás, es lo que se merece.
EN: You mean, can I play hardball?
ES: ¿Si puedo ser un tipo duro?
EN: Frasier Crane can play hardball, too.
ES: Frasier Crane puede jugar duro, también.
EN: I told you she'd play hardball.
ES: Os dije que sería complicado.
EN: lt`s time to play hardball.
ES: Es hora de jugar duro.
EN: Well, it's a dog eat dog world, my friend. You gotta play hardball if you wanna... beat the rats at the rat race.
ES: Esto es la ley de la selva y sólo sobrevive el más apto.
EN: Bastards want to play hardball, huh?
ES: Cabrones quieren jugar sucio, ¿eh?
EN: You want to play hardball?
ES: ¿Quieres jugar rudo ?
EN: Now we're going to play hardball.
ES: Ahora vamos a jugar duro con ellos.
EN: We'll make a deal. I'll play hardball. And when it's over.
ES: Haremos un trato, yo usaré una táctica agresiva y cuando se vayan seremos ricos.

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