“Work hard, play hard” is a common motto.

Hard in this case is used as an adjective which means very strong or vigorous, doing your utmost, your extreme best, your maximum effort. Playing hard means that you take the game seriously.

You often hear this phrase “It’s time to play hard ball.” That just means, its time for us to really get down to business.” And that up to that point, no one has been really serious, but now it’s about to “hit the fan.”

This is entirely different from playing “hard to get.” That means the girl is going to say no before she says yes. IF she says yes, ever. That saying means that she may just be teasing, with no intention of ever…going all the way.

A sentence: “George worked and played hard.”

You work hard, earn money and at the same time, you can spend money, participate in recreational activities.

A very common phrase.