From Longman Dictionary of Contemporary Englishplay hardballplay hardballinformalDETERMINED to be very determined to get what you want, especially in business or politics → hardball
Examples from the Corpus
play hardball• PITTSBURGHThe Steelers and Pirates found out voters can play hardball, too.• Well, we can play hardball, too.• This is playing hardball, but it is hardball of a sort familiar in these dealings.• Toymaker Mattel is getting ready to play hardball in an effort to persuade Hasbro to reconsider a merger.• It is clear that the company is ready to play hardball with the unions.• The Deputy Prime Minister told reporters that Canada was ready to play hardball with the US. 