Definition & Meaning of "[play] ball with {sb}"

What is the origin of the idiom "play ball with someone" and when to use it?

The origin of the idiom "play ball with someone" is believed to come from the game of baseball, where players must work together to achieve success. The expression originally referred to the idea of playing a game of baseball with someone, but later came to be used more broadly to describe any situation where two or more people are working together in a cooperative way.Today, this phrase is used to describe a situation where someone is willing to cooperate or work together with another person to achieve a common goal.