balls
B2Varies widely: formal for literal plural; highly informal/vulgar for slang meanings.
Definition
Meaning
Plural of 'ball': spherical objects used in games and sports.
(slang, vulgar) Testicles; (slang, chiefly British) Nonsense, rubbish; (slang) Courage, nerve; (slang) To make a mess of something.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Extreme polysemy exists. The literal sense is neutral. Most figurative/slang senses are informal to offensive. The exclamation 'Balls!' (BrE) expressing contempt/dismissal is less taboo than the anatomical reference but still informal. The verb 'to balls up' (BrE) means to bungle.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
BrE uses 'balls' as an exclamation ('Balls! I missed the bus.') and in 'balls-up' (a mess/mistake) more commonly. AmE uses 'balls' primarily for anatomical slang or courage ('He's got balls'). The phrase 'balls of steel' is more AmE.
Connotations
In both, anatomical/vulgar connotations are primary in slang. In BrE, 'balls' as nonsense is less sexually charged but still informal/impolite.
Frequency
The slang anatomical meaning is high frequency in informal speech. The literal plural is common in sports contexts. The 'courage' sense is moderately frequent in AmE.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
to have the balls to [VERB]to balls [something] up[VERB] the balls (e.g., drop, catch, throw)[ADJ] balls (e.g., juggling, rubber)Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “balls to the wall (AmE: with maximum effort)”
- “break one's balls (vulgar: harass or work extremely hard)”
- “by the balls (vulgar: in a controlling position)”
- “have someone by the balls (vulgar)”
- “balls-up (BrE: a bungled situation)”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Highly avoided in formal settings. May appear in very informal/male-dominated environments ('That's a ballsy move.').
Academic
Only in literal, technical contexts (e.g., physics of bouncing balls).
Everyday
Literal sense common with children/sports. Slang senses common in casual, often male, conversation among peers. Risky in mixed/unknown company.
Technical
Specific to fields like sports science, manufacturing (ball bearings), physics.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- I completely ballsed up the presentation.
- Don't balls it up this time.
American English
- He ballsed up the negotiations. (Less common, understood)
adverb
British English
- He ran balls out to catch the train. (Rare, informal)
- They went at it balls to the wall.
American English
- They worked balls to the wall to finish on time.
adjective
British English
- That was a ballsy thing to say.
- She made a ballsy decision.
American English
- It was a ballsy move to quit his job.
- He's known for his ballsy attitude.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- The children played with colourful balls.
- We need more tennis balls for the lesson.
- He threw the ball, but she caught both balls at once.
- Keep your eye on the ball—all three balls are in play.
- It took a lot of balls to admit his mistake in front of everyone.
- The whole project was a complete balls-up from the start.
- His proposal, while politically ballsy, lacked substantive financial analysis.
- The manager had us by the balls, knowing we couldn't afford to lose the contract.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine a jar of BALlS. If you drop it, someone might shout 'BALLS!' in frustration. The S makes it plural or turns it into slang.
Conceptual Metaphor
BALLS AS COURAGE/SOURCE OF POWER (from testicles as symbol of masculinity). BALLS AS NONSENSE (from 'testicles' as something trivial/ridiculous).
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Avoid direct translation of slang 'balls' (мужики/шары) into Russian for 'courage'—use 'смелость' or 'храбрость'.
- The exclamation 'Balls!' is not equivalent to 'Блин!'—it's stronger/more vulgar.
- Do not use 'мячи' to translate 'He has balls.' It will be misunderstood literally.
Common Mistakes
- Using slang senses in formal writing/contexts.
- Overestimating the acceptability of the exclamation 'Balls!' in polite BrE conversation.
- Assuming 'balls' as courage is polite or neutral—it's informal and crude.
Practice
Quiz
In which context is 'balls' LEAST likely to be considered offensive?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Absolutely not. It is vulgar slang. Use 'nerve', 'courage', 'bravery', or 'guts' (which is also informal but less vulgar).
'Ball' is singular. 'Balls' is the plural for objects. However, 'balls' as slang is a fixed plural form meaning testicles, nonsense, or courage, not simply the plural of the slang 'ball'.
In BrE, it evolved more from the 'nonsense/rubbish' sense, akin to 'Rubbish!' or 'Nonsense!'. In AmE, the anatomical meaning is more dominant, making the exclamation sound more explicitly vulgar.
Yes, but carefully. 'Ballsy' can be a backhanded compliment meaning 'bold and brave'. Saying someone 'has balls' implies admiration for their audacity/courage, but the phrasing remains informal and crude.