What Does "Play the Man and Not the Ball" Mean?
"Play the man and not the ball" is an English idiom. It means "to focus on attacking or criticizing the person involved in a discussion or argument rather than addressing the issues or content."Examples in Sentences
Here are three examples of the idiom "play the man and not the ball" used in a sentence:- The heated debate turned unproductive when participants started to play the man and not the ball, resorting to personal attacks.
- In a respectful conversation, it's essential to stick to the topic and avoid playing the man and not the ball.
- Constructive criticism should aim to improve ideas or proposals, not play the man and not the ball.
What Is an Idiom?
An idiom is a commonly used expression whose meaning does not relate to the literal meaning of its words. In other words, if you were to translate "Play the Man and Not the Ball" word for word, there is no guarantee the translation would help you to understand the meaning.An idiom often includes a cultural or historical context that makes it difficult for non-native English speakers to understand. A phrase is classified as an idiom when a direct translation of the words does not reveal the meaning. Most idioms rely on shared knowledge or experiences known only to a specific community.
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