play the ball, not the man

A form of play the ball and not the man — To attack the ball instead of an opponent who is usually controlling the ball. Often considered a positive action, and sometimes a requirement not to concede a penalty.

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Meanings

verbplay the ball, not the man (third-person singular simple present plays the ball, not the man, present participle playing the ball, not the man, simple past and past participle played the ball, not the man)

present singular third person plays the ball, not the man · participle present playing the ball, not the man · participle past played the ball, not the man · past played the ball, not the man

  1. alternativeAlternative form of play the ball and not the man.
Cite this entry
APA

play the ball, not the man. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 5, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/play%20the%20ball%2C%20not%20the%20man

MLA

“play the ball, not the man.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/play%20the%20ball%2C%20not%20the%20man. Accessed November 5, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “play the ball, not the man,” accessed November 5, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/play%20the%20ball%2C%20not%20the%20man.

Source: play the ball, not the man on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.