A-Z Database
This is an old expression dating from the 15th century and derives from the coot, fulica atra, a web-footed water bird that is also known as the bald...
"It is a pity that such a lovely expressive word meaning rubbish or nonsense should have an origin shrouded in mystery and conjecture. There is someth...
The origin of this expression is tennis when the next move in the game has to be from the ball-receiver. Its figurative sense, meaning the transferenc...
If something has gone for a ball of chalk, it means that something is a complete mess or disaster. That is why it is difficult to equate its current m...
A dynamic person capable of displaying rapid and effective thought and action; the metaphor dates from the early 19th century, despite fruitless etymo...
see Whole ball of wax
Ball as in a dance dates from the early 1600s and derives from the French bal or baller meaning dance or to dance. Balls meaning testicles has been in...
This is an American slang expression dating from the 1920s meaning to go fast or take off at top speed. It became the particular jargon of US railroad...
This word was first used to describe rocket-powered missiles c.1954 and only acquired its figurative meaning of being irrationally angry from the earl...
This expression dates from the First World War and is now figurative for major trouble ahead. When the troops in the frontlines saw the balloons of th...
Originally, from the late 19th century, this is an American term for a baseball stadium. Its figurative sense of a reasonably accurate approximation d...
see Too many balls in the air
To go balls out is to act with maximum speed or vigour and the origin is thought to be a male anatomical vulgarism, most probably American, from WWII....
Usually used as an adjectival phrase as in a balls-to-the-wall effort meaning an all-out, maximum effort. The expression is first cited in the militar...
A blunder, mistake or error dates from the late 19th/early 20th century and the exact relevance to balls or testicles remains obscure. See also Cock-u...