"Play hardball” — Pretty Woman"
Definition
To play hardball means to be tough, aggressive, and uncompromising in a negotiation or dispute. No softness, no flexibility, just ruthless focus on getting what you want.
How to use it
In Pretty Woman, the business negotiation scenes are a masterclass in how power and language interact. "Playing hardball" is the opposite of playing nice. You hear it in business, politics, and sport. It comes from baseball, where hardball is the serious adult game as opposed to the softer children's version.
Examples
► "The union decided to play hardball and refused any compromise."
► "If they won't lower the price, we play hardball and walk away."
From the lesson
7 Hollywood Idioms | The Ultimate Compilation
This phrase appears in the 7 Hollywood Idioms | The Ultimate Compilation lesson. Open it to watch the scene and download the free worksheet.
Open Lesson