work the refs

Definitions

1. 1

   To attempt to persuade the referee or other officials to view the players on one's team…

   To attempt to persuade the referee or other officials to view the players on one's team with a sympathetic bias.

   • You should also work the refs during pregame warmups, telling them how hard your players work on blocking out in practice and hope that the refs give your players a fair chance.
   • He worked the refs better than anyone I've ever seen. He was a great bench coach, too. He had a great feel for playing the right people at the right time.
   • I don't remember much about the game, who won or lost, but what I do remember was Jack, his intensity and the fierce, passionate way he worked the refs.
2. 2

   To manipulate the press to view one's candidate favorably and to report negative stories…

   To manipulate the press to view one's candidate favorably and to report negative stories on one's opponent.

   • Slater said that Bush would charm reporters in an attempt to "work the refs" much like a basketball coach will try to cajole and hassle referees in order to influence calls.
   • Today this pressure is better funded and more coordinated on the Right, making their efforts to work the refs, to script our political spectacles, more powerful.
   • In a sense, for conservatives the “changed his mind” story is a continuation of their efforts to work the refs, this time treating the American people as the referees in a contest over respect for the Supreme Court.

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