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Browsing page 19 of "B" words

balls of steel

noun - plural

  • metaphorical testicles that people with courage or gall have.
    You must have balls of steel showing your face in here.
    • See more words with the same meaning: brave.

    Last edited on Feb 28 2011. Submitted by Walter Rader (Editor) from Sacramento, CA, USA on Feb 28 2011.

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balls out

adjective

adverb

  • with reckless abandon and extreme courage; "head-long"; "with a head full of steam"; "giving it one's all".
    Those motorcyclists took that steep hill balls out!
    You just have to go balls out to win this game.

    Last edited on Jun 04 2013. Submitted by Jon L. from Naples, FL, USA on May 22 1999.

notes

  • See also balls to the wall.

    Last edited on Oct 14 2018. Submitted by Alan H. from New York, NY, USA on Jul 31 1998.

  • Possible etymology: The original phrase is actually hinted to in the expression "with a full head of steam". In the earliest days of steam engines, Watt style engines and their successors used a centrifugal governor to control speed. The faster the engine was to run the higher the weighted balls on the governor would rise until at full speed they were at their highest and farthest reach from the center: high or full speed was known as running "balls out".

    Last edited on Feb 29 2008. Submitted by tg from Georgia, USA on Feb 29 2008.

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balls, the

noun

notes

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balls to the wall

  • extreme, all out.
    That guy went balls to the wall to win that race.

    Last edited on Dec 30 2005. Submitted by Joe B. from Columbus, OH, USA on Dec 30 2005.

adverb

  • extreme; "all out".
    This is the last game of the season, boys! So, it's balls to the wall!

    Last edited on Jul 10 2011. Submitted by Mary K. from Lockport, IL, USA on Nov 05 2004.

notes

  • One theory of the term's etymology follows.

    On old steam engines, there was a governor device that had an arm with two steel balls on each end. This spun around, and as the engine went faster the centrifugal force spun the balls higher and higher. When the engine reached its maximum safe power, the balls would be spinning fast and high. When they reached a specific height, a spring would shut down steam and not allow the engine to blow up (over speed itself). So "balls to the wall" means: as fast as the engine possibly can go.

    Last edited on Jul 10 2011. Submitted by Anonymous on Jul 10 2011.

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ball up

verb

  • to beat someone until they enter the fetal position (their body forming a tight ball.)
    If that guy keeps looking at me he's gonna get balled up.

    Last edited on Dec 12 1999. Submitted by Brian U. from Mt Pleasant, PA, USA on Dec 12 1999.

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ball washer

noun

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balstunta

  • pro at everything
    I'm a balstunta.

    Last edited on Mar 18 2016. Submitted by ybk on Mar 18 2016.

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