lawyerball

lawyerball

English

Etymology

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

Noun

lawyerball (uncountable)

1. (informal, humorous, derogatory) A supposed game consisting of pedantic legal wrangling.
   • 1998, "Eddie Auerbach", Rules Question: Straddling Foul Line OK? (discussion on Internet newsgroup rec.sport.baseball)

     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... (discussion on Internet newsgroup rec.music.artists.springsteen)

     ...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