Browsing page 1 of new words for November 5, 2004

• extreme, all out.

  That guy went balls to the wall to win that race.

  • See more words with the same meaning: wild, ridiculous, extreme.

  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.

noun

• a large amount of something.

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