playbook

Register · Neutral Neutral — appropriate in most situations, both spoken and written, without sounding too casual or too stiff. CEFR B2

Post

Figurative meaning

a set of proven methods, tactics, and moves for a given situation

Why this phrase?

From sports: the book of plays a team runs. In business, every VC and operator has one.

Example

“They ran the classic growth playbook: freemium, referral loop, then enterprise.”

Additional meanings

the collected best practices a firm or team applies repeatedly

Dictionary details

Component words

play

Tags

Expressions connected by reviewed component words or topic tags.

play for time Neutral · CEFR B2

to delay deliberately in order to prepare or avoid an immediate outcome

play with fire Neutral · CEFR B2

to take a serious risk that is likely to bring harmful consequences

play hardball Neutral · CEFR C1

to negotiate or compete aggressively, without compromise

moat Neutral · CEFR C1

a durable competitive advantage that protects a business from rivals

burn rate Neutral · CEFR B2

the speed at which a company spends its cash reserves, usually measured per month

land grab Informal · CEFR B2

a fierce rush to capture as much market share or territory as possible, often before the market matures

Source methodology

Meanings, register, CEFR, and examples come from the reviewed dictionary record. Expression notes may describe a reviewed present-day word picture or a background note; they are not presented as verified etymology.

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