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play ball with sb
/plˈeɪ bˈɔːl wɪð ˌɛsbˈiː/
/plˈeɪ bˈɔːl wɪð ˌɛsbˈiː/
to play ball with sb
[PHRASE]1
to cooperate, work together, or engage in a mutually beneficial interaction or partnership with someone
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.
Examples
1. If we want to get this project done on time, we need to play ball with the other team.
2. If we want to win this contract, we'll need to play ball with the other company and find a way to work together.
3. He's been playing ball with his colleagues, sharing ideas and working together to improve the company's performance.
4. Despite their initial disagreements, they eventually played ball with each other and were able to complete the project successfully.
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