Learn English with Pretty Woman as we explore what it means to play hardball. Have you ever been in a situation where you had to play tough to get what you wanted? Maybe you negotiated a deal, stood your ground in an argument, or refused to back down under pressure. That’s what it means to play hardball—to be aggressive, competitive, and unwilling to compromise.
Pretty Woman may be a love story, but it also features some sharp, high-stakes business English—especially when Edward (played by Richard Gere) enters tough negotiations.
👇 Watch the full video lesson below, then scroll down to unpack all the useful business vocabulary and the idiom “play hardball” in action. Let’s see what business English we can learn from Pretty Woman.
Key Terms from the Pretty Woman Scene
1. Destiny
6. “Break it up and sell off the pieces”
10. Suckers
15. Destroyers
19. Idiom Spotlight | Play Hardball
20. Get some air
22. Literal vs figurative
1) Destiny
📖 A belief that your future is already planned out or “meant to be.”
💬 “It was destiny that brought them together.”
💬 “He believes success is a matter of destiny.”
2) "Where’s the salad?"
📖 A cultural moment: In French dining, salad comes after the main course—unlike in the U.S., where it comes before.
💬 “In France, dessert and coffee come last, but salad may come after the entrée.”
3) Intentions
📖 Your plans, goals, or reasons for doing something.
💬 “What are your intentions with this investment?”
💬 “I had no bad intentions.”
4) Delicacy
📖 A rare or luxurious food item, often expensive or unusual.
💬 “Truffles are a delicacy in Europe.”
💬 “Escargot is considered a delicacy in France.”
5) Bon appétit
📖 French for “Enjoy your meal!” Common in English when eating out or dining formally.
💬 “Dinner is served—bon appétit!”
6) "Break it up and sell off the pieces"
📖 A business strategy where a company is sold in parts rather than as a whole.
💬 “After bankruptcy, the company was broken up and sold off.”
7) Thrilled
📖 Means very happy or excited, but in this scene, it’s used sarcastically.
💬 “I’m not thrilled about working late again.”
💬 “She was thrilled to win the scholarship!”
8) Garage Sale
📖 A home-based sale of used items like clothes, furniture, or toys.
💬 “We’re having a garage sale this weekend—come by!”
9) Stock vs. Share
📖 Stock = ownership in a company
📖 Share = a single unit of that stock
💬 “I own stock in Apple.”
💬 “She owns 100 shares of Tesla.”
10) Suckers
📖 In this scene, it refers to slippery snails, but it can also mean a gullible person.
💬 “He fell for the scam—poor sucker!”
11) Bastard
📖 A harsh insult meaning someone is mean, dishonest, or unpleasant. Can be joking or serious depending on the tone.
💬 “You lucky bastard!” (joking)
💬 “That guy is a total bastard.” (angry)
12) Franchise (used figuratively)
📖 Edward says, “I have the franchise on that,” meaning he owns the rights to being the worst—used sarcastically.
💬 “You think you’re messy? I have the franchise on that!”
13) Passed Away
📖 A polite euphemism for “died.”
💬 “Her father passed away last year.”
📝 Other Euphemisms for Death:
- Gone
- No longer with us
- Crossed over
- Resting in peace
14) Other Euphemisms for Death
📖 A polite euphemism for “died.”
💬 “Her father passed away last year.”
📝 Other Euphemisms for Death:
- Gone
- No longer with us
- Crossed over
- Resting in peace
15) Destroyers
📖 Fast and powerful military ships used in naval warfare.
💬 “Destroyers were sent to secure the area.”
16) Appropriations Committee
📖 A government group that decides how public money is spent.
💬 “The bill is stuck in the Appropriations Committee.”
17) "In your pocket"
📖 If someone is in your pocket, it means you control or influence them, often in a dishonest or corrupt way.
💬 “He’s got half the city council in his pocket.”
18) Calm Down
📖 A phrase used to tell someone to relax or stop being angry.
💬 “Calm down! Let’s talk about it.”
⚠️ Be careful—this phrase can be annoying if said in the wrong tone!
19) Idiom Spotlight | Plays Hardball
📖 The phrase “plays hardball” means to be tough, aggressive, and unwilling to compromise—especially in high-stakes situations like business deals or politics.
In the scene from Pretty Woman, Mr. Morse says, “Mr. Lewis plays hardball,” meaning Edward is using ruthless tactics to pressure others and get exactly what he wants. He’s not playing nice—he’s playing to win.
💬 “If you want a better salary, you might have to play hardball during the negotiation.”
💬 “They tried to settle it quietly, but their lawyer played hardball.”
Where Does It Come From?
The phrase comes from the sport of baseball. In the 1800s, some people played a more relaxed version of the game using softer balls, while others played “hardball”—with fast pitches, sharp rules, and no room for error. Playing hardball was intense, dangerous, and competitive.
Eventually, the term moved beyond baseball. By the mid-20th century, people started using “play hardball” to describe anyone who was fierce, competitive, or cutthroat in their approach—especially in politics, business, and legal disputes.
🧠 So when someone “plays hardball,” they:
Don’t care about being nice
Refuse to compromise
Use pressure, strategy, and even threats to win
This isn’t someone who gives in easily. They’re there to win—no matter the cost.
20) Get Some Air
📖 Means to step outside for fresh air, usually to calm down or clear your mind.
💬 “I need to get some air after that meeting.”
21) Tear You Apart
📖 To completely defeat or overwhelm someone, emotionally, physically, or in an argument.
💬 “That team tore us apart—5-0!”
💬 “The lawyer tore the witness apart on the stand.”
22) Literal vs. Figurative
📖 Means to step outside for fresh air, usually to calm down or clear your mind.
💬 “I need to get some air after that meeting.”
23) More Examples of Literal vs. Figurative
- “It’s raining cats and dogs.”
- Literal: Cats and dogs are falling from the sky (which never happens).
- Figurative: It’s raining very heavily.
- “She has a heart of gold.”
- Literal: Her heart is made of actual gold (which would be impossible).
- Figurative: She is very kind and generous.
- “He has politicians in his pocket.”
- Literal: He is carrying tiny politicians inside his pocket (which is ridiculous).
- Figurative: He controls politicians and can make them do what he wants.
English has many idioms and expressions that don’t make sense literally, so it’s important to recognize when something is meant figuratively.
- “It’s raining cats and dogs.”
24) "I look forward to it"
📖 Means to step outside for fresh air, usually to calm down or clear your mind.
💬 “I need to get some air after that meeting.”
✅ Wrap-Up
We’ve broken down the powerful idiom “play hardball,” explored its origins, and unpacked 20+ real-life business expressions as you learn English with Pretty Woman.
Edward’s negotiation style may be ruthless—but his sharp language gives us plenty to learn about business English, idioms, and persuasive speech.
If you enjoyed this lesson, make sure to like, subscribe, and share with your fellow English learners. We drop a new Hollywood English lesson every week—using famous movie scenes to help you:
✨ Read between the lines
🎙️ Talk the talk
👂 And sharpen your ears
And remember—when it comes to learning English…
Don’t play nice. Play hardball.
