Don't play the man and not the ball during our debate.
play the man and not the ball
idiomTo object to someone's argument by attacking them or a facet of their personality instead of the argument itself; to make an ad hominem attack.
Instead of answering my question about the budget, he started playing the man and not the ball by criticizing my past mistakes.
In a display of poor rhetoric, the politician chose to play the man and not the ball, ignoring the policy proposal entirely to focus on his opponent's character.
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ball hog
In team sports, a player who keeps the ball to themselves, rather than passing it.
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ball of fire
A person who is especially active, ambitious, hard-working, or high-achieving.
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ball of malt
A glass of whiskey.
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balls of steel
Courage, audacity.
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balls to the wall
With maximum effort or commitment.
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be a man
To put up with something or take responsibility for it; to deal with something, such as pain or misfortune, without complaining.
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be one's own man
To behave independently without the influence of others.
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be the bigger man
To walk away from a conflict to prevent it from escalating.
Last updated April 17, 2026