play the ball and not the man
The idiom "play the ball and not the man" encourages focusing on the issue rather than making personal attacks, promoting fair play and constructive dialogue.
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Definition
B2Sports
(informal)To target the object of play rather than the player controlling it, often to avoid penalties.
Example
- The coach always tells the team to play the ball and not the man to avoid unnecessary fouls.
B2Debate
(idiomatic, colloquial)To address the argument itself instead of attacking the person making it, avoiding personal attacks.
Example
- In a heated debate, it's crucial to play the ball and not the man to maintain a respectful discussion.
Similar
Terms that have similar or relatively close meanings to "play the ball and not the man":
play the man and not the ballplay ballcall balls and strikesfree balladvance the ballno ballplay the anglesplay it straightplay hardballreturn ball