play ball—
1. engage in a sport such as baseball, soccer, etc.:
- My buddies couldn’t decide where we wanted to play ball, so we gave up and went to a movie instead.
2. go along with a person; cooperate willingly in a plan or activity:
- I might have played ball just a little, but I scorned to.
Note: The expression does not correlate in meaning with the phrase play catch-up ball—
1. play a game determinedly when one is losing:
- “We made them play catch-up ball,” commented head coach Rick Schwiebert.
2. work hard to recover from a disadvantage:
- For the last two years it’s been a matter of playing catch-up ball with the budget.
play the ball —(in cricket, football, etc.) hit or kick the ball:
- I pointed to the penalty mark, but the defender protested loudly that he had played the ball.
Note: The expression does not correlate in meaning with the phrase play the ball not the man—not resort to attacks directed against the character of the person rather than the subject under discussion:
- Let’s play the ball not the man comrades, simply hurling insults at people who differ with our views will not help.