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play ball

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play ball (with somebody)

to agree to do something the way someone else wants you to Critics say the agency has been pressured to play ball with drug companies.

Related vocabulary: go along (with somebody/something)

Etymology: play ball is said to start a baseball game by the official who controls the game

See also: ball, play

play ball

(slang)

to agree to do what you have been told or encouraged to do He was warned to keep his mouth shut and play ball, and that's pretty much what he did.

Usage notes: often used to suggest that you do not approve of what you are told to do

See also: ball, play

play ball

  (informal)

to agree to do what someone asks you to do, or to agree to work with someone in order to achieve something together (usually negative) Fourteen out of the fifteen nations have agreed to the new restrictions but one country still refuses to play ball.

See also: ball, play

play ball

1. Cooperate, as in The opposing attorneys refused to play ball with us. [Slang; c. 1900]

2. Get going, start, as in It's time to get a move on; let's play ball. This usage comes from the baseball umpire's call to start a game. [Slang; late 1800s]

See also: ball, play

play ball

verb

See play ball with someone

See also: ball, play

play ball

Slang

To cooperate: The opposing attorneys refused to play ball with us.

See also: ball, play