hard ball

Word Origin & History

1883 as the name of a game, from hard + ball (n.1). The figurative sense of "tough, uncompromising behavior" is from 1973.

Continue to boil to the hard ball stage or about 250 degrees.

Boil to the hard ball stage, then flavor with a spoonful of vanilla.

Boil to the hard ball stage, stirring often to keep from sticking.

Boil to the hard ball stage, and pour into well-buttered pans.

Then he picked up some snow, made it into a hard ball, and let fly.

Wogan wiped his forehead and crushed his handkerchief into a hard ball in his palm.

That "soft ball," "hard ball," "thread," and "brittle" mean the different stages sugar reaches while cooking.

She let these cook, and just before they reached the hard ball stage, added the butter.

Betsey let the sugar, water and vinegar boil until a little of the syrup, dropped in cold water, formed a hard ball.

The sugar, water and vinegar were boiled until a little of the syrup, tried by Betsey in cold water, formed a hard ball.

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adj resourceful, energetic

adjective. desiring success