To play hardball is to be very determined to get what you want, especially in business or politics. You push, you do not give in easily, and you may use pressure or threats that stay just inside the rules. It is informal and a bit tough-sounding; Americans use it more than British speakers. You mostly meet it in the phrase play hardball, or in hardball tactics.

To play hardball is to be very determined to get what you wantTo play hardball指的是非常堅持要得到自己想要的東西, especially in business or politics尤其是在商業或政治的場合。 You push你會不斷施壓, you do not give in easily不輕易讓步, and you may use pressure or threats that stay just inside the rules也可能會用一些壓力或威脅，但還勉強不算違規。 It is informal and a bit tough-sounding這是個口語、聽起來有點強硬的字; Americans use it more than British speakers美國人用得比英國人多。 You mostly meet it in the phrase play hardball, or in hardball tactics你最常會在play hardball這個片語，或hardball tactics（強硬手段）裡遇到它

The picture comes from baseball: a hard ball is the serious game; softball is the gentler one. So “we are playing hardball” means “we are not being gentle”.

The picture comes from baseball這個畫面來自棒球: a hard ball is the serious game硬式球是比較認真的比賽; softball is the gentler onesoftball（壘球）則是比較溫和的那種。 So "we are playing hardball" means "we are not being gentle"所以「we are playing hardball」意思就是「我們不會手下留情」

Though actually, people say it even when no sport is near — a contract fight, a union talk, an election. It is not a lesson about throwing a hard ball. As a verb on its own (to hardball someone) you may hear it in US news, but play hardball is the shape learners will actually meet.

Though actually不過其實, people say it even when no sport is near就算完全沒有運動的場合，大家也會這樣說 — a contract fight, a union talk, an election像合約談判、工會協商、選舉。 It is not a lesson about throwing a hard ball它講的不是怎麼丟一顆硬球。 As a verb on its own (to hardball someone)當它單獨當動詞用（to hardball someone）, you may hear it in US news你可能會在美國新聞裡聽到, but play hardball is the shape learners will actually meet但學習者實際會遇到的形式是play hardball