noun, mainly US
1: Testicles. a.(1325 —) .
D. H. Lawrence She...gathered his balls in her hand (1928).
2: Nonsense; frequently as an interjection. (1889 —) .
A. Wilson 'Look here! this is awful balls,' said John (1956);
L. Cooper Fanciful? Balls! It's what happens (1960).
3: to make a balls of to muddle, to do badly. (1889 —) .
S. Beckett I've made a balls of the fly (1958). Cf. balls-up
4: to get or have (someone) by the balls to have (someone) completely in one's power. (1950 —) .
Harper's As you can see, I'm one of the fortunate few who has Blue Cross by the balls (1993).
5: Courage, determination; (manly) power or strength; masculinity. (1958 —) .
M. Amis Just keeping a handhold and staying where you are,...even that takes tons of balls (1984). Cf. ballsy
6: to balls (something) up to do (something) badly, to make a mess of (something). (1947 —) .
S. Price The public would laugh fit to bust if someone really ballsed-up the Civil Service (1961). Cf. ball1
[Plural of ball
| ballpark, ballocking, ball-buster | |
| balls-aching, balls-up, ballsy |
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