hide the ball
In real, traceable use. Part of the curated seed collection; community review is coming.
Meaning · English
To withhold evidence in a trial that may hurt one's case.
Register: slang
Where it’s used:
Used
American English
Sources & notes
Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-30 via kaikki.org).
Common questions
What does “hide the ball” mean?
To withhold evidence in a trial that may hurt one's case.
Is “hide the ball” formal or informal?
hide the ball is generally slang.