play the man and not the ball
/P L EY1 DH AH0 M AE0 N AH0 N D N AA0 T DH AH0 B AO0 L/verb
- 1
(by extension, idiomatic, colloquial) To 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.
- 2
(sports) To attack an opponent instead of attacking the ball, which is usually being controlled by the attacked player at the time.
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