lawyerball

English

Etymology

From lawyer +‎ ball, after the names of sports such as football and basketball.

Pronunciation

• Audio (US):

  (file)

Noun

lawyerball (uncountable)

1. (informal, humorous, derogatory) A supposed game consisting of pedantic legal wrangling.
   • 1998, Eddie Auerbach, “Rules Question: Straddling Foul Line OK?”, in rec.sport.baseball (Usenet):

     I think this answers your question. It is sufficiently vague enough that it doesn't answer your question *specifically* if you're playing lawyerball, but I think the meaning is clear.

   • 2000, Steve Ferra, “(NBC) Turning away from FL for a minute...”, in rec.music.artists.springsteen (Usenet):

     ...Ashcroft/Carnahan is now 50/50, and the bulk of the MO vote is from St. Louis. All hail the dead man! (Should be an interesting court battle, although the Republicans ought to accept the popular will and not play lawyerball).

   • 2007, Ronald J York, The Police Negotiator's Handbook:

     If your attorney and the city's attorney wrestle control of the negotiating process away from you, they will immediately start playing "lawyerball."

Translations

supposed legal games

• Swedish: paragrafrytteri (sv)

Anagrams

• wall barley