be a team player

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "be a team player" is correct and usable in written English. You can use it in contexts where collaboration and teamwork are emphasized, such as in job descriptions or performance reviews. Example: "In our company, we value employees who can be a team player and contribute to group success." Alternative expressions include "work well with others" and "collaborate effectively."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Academia

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Be a team player.

Harvard University

"He likes to be a team player".

The New York Times

"I want to be a team player.

The New York Times - Sports

I wanted to be a team player".

The New York Times

Be a team player – respect everyone.

The Guardian

He tried, maybe too hard, to be a team player.

The New York Times - Sports

Are they really going to be a team player?

The New York Times

You want to be a team player, literally.

The New York Times - Arts

Such a musician will have to be a team player.

The New York Times - Arts

"I tried to be a team player," he said.

The New York Times

But I've always wanted to be a team player.

The New York Times - Sports

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Pair the phrase with specific examples of actions to avoid sounding like a cliché.

Common error

Do not use "be a team player" as a synonym for someone who simply follows orders without question. A true team player actively contributes, supports others and helps the group reach its goal, which may sometimes involve constructive dissent or leadership.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "be a team player" functions as a predicative verb phrase consisting of the copular verb "be" and a noun phrase complement. In Ludwig, we see it frequently appearing in the infinitive form to express requirements, traits or advice. It serves as a behavioral descriptor that links an individual's identity to their collective actions.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

45%

Wiki

25%

Formal & Business

15%

Less common in

Academia

10%

Science

3%

Encyclopedias

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In conclusion, "be a team player" is a highly versatile and widely accepted idiom used to describe collaborative excellence. Data from Ludwig shows its prevalence in professional and public discourse, particularly when discussing leadership, sports and workplace dynamics. While it is grammatically simple, its rhetorical power lies in its ability to summarize complex interpersonal skills into a single metaphor. Writers should feel confident using it in most settings, though substituting it with more technical terms like "collaborative" may be appropriate in strictly academic or formal scientific documents to avoid the sports-related imagery.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

collaborate effectively

Uses more formal and professional terminology suitable for business reports.

work well with others

Provides a direct and clear description of the action without the idiomatic metaphor.

be a team member

Switches the focus from the active role of a player to the membership status.

contribute to the group

Focuses on the output and the impact on the collective rather than the behavior itself.

cooperate with colleagues

Specifies the professional relationship and the act of cooperation formally.

be a collaborator

Uses a single noun to define the identity of someone who works with others.

play your part

Suggests fulfilling a specific duty within a larger collective effort.

pull your weight

An idiom that specifically emphasizes doing one's fair share of the work.

show team spirit

Emphasizes the attitude and morale rather than the specific functional cooperation.

work in harmony

Highlights the avoidance of conflict and the smooth nature of the collaboration.

FAQs

How do I use "be a team player" in a sentence?

You can use it as an imperative or as part of a description, for example: "To succeed in this company, you really need to "be a team player" and support your coworkers."

What is a more professional way to say "be a team player"?

In formal business settings, you might prefer to say "collaborate effectively" or "work well in a cross-functional environment".

Can I use "be a team player" in a job application?

Yes, it is very common, but it is better to provide evidence such as being a "cooperative contributor" on specific projects.

Is "be a team player" an idiom?

Yes, it is an idiomatic expression that uses the metaphor of sports to describe someone who works for the benefit of a group rather than just for themselves.