Let’s ball. We gotta ball. Later. 5. tv. &
in. to copulate [with] someone. (Usually
objectionable.) Isn’t there anything
more to you than balling? I hear she
balled him but good. 6. in. to play a ball
game. Bob’s out balling with the guys.
Hey, man! Get your shoes on and let’s
go ballin’!ball and chainn. a wife; a girlfriend.
(Mostly jocular.) I’ve got to get home to
my ball and chain. My ball and chain
is mad at me.
ball-breaker and ball-buster 1. n. a dif-
ficult task; a difficult or trying situation
requiring extremely hard work or effort.
(Usually objectionable.) That whole
construction job was a real ball-breaker. 2.
n. a hard taskmaster; a hard-to-please
boss. (Usually objectionable.) To m g e t s
a day’s work for a day’s pay out of his men,
but he’s no ball-breaker. 3. n. a female
who is threatening to males. (Usually ob-
jectionable.) Mrs. Samuels has a terri-
ble reputation as a ball-breaker. Wholly
deserved, I might add.
ball-busterGo to ball-breaker.
ball-busting 1. mod. very difficult or chal-
lenging. (Usually objectionable.) Man,
that was a real ball-busting job. I hope I
never have to do that again. 2. mod. very
obnoxious and threatening. (Usually ob-
jectionable.) Who is that ball-busting
bitch? 3. mod. very industrious. (Usually
objectionable.) That’s a real ball-bust-
ing crew working on that job.
balled upmod. confused; mixed up. (This
is hyphenated before a nominal.) That
dame is so balled up she doesn’t know any-
thing. This is really a balled-up mess
you’ve made.
ballern. an athlete. (One who plays with
footballs, basketballs, baseballs, etc.)
You will make a lot of money as a profes-
sional baller. Most of the high-paid
ballers are out of a job by the age of forty.
ballheadn. an athlete. (Perhaps a stupid
one.) My dorm is full of ballheads.
If you want to be a ballhead, you have to
have talent and stamina.
Theball is in someone’s court.phr. to be
someone else’s move, play, or turn. The
ball’s in your court now. You do something.
I can’t do anything as long as the ball
is in John’s court.
ball offGo to beat off.
ball of fire and fireballn. an energetic
and ambitious person; a go-getter.
That guy is a real ball of fire when it comes
to sales. I don’t want to hire some young
fireball. I need wisdom and thoughtful-
ness.
balloonsn. a woman’s breasts, especially
large ones. (Usually objectionable.)
What fine balloons on Jim’s girl!
ball park estimate and ball park figure
n. a rough estimate. I can only give you
a ball park estimate at this time. All I
need is a ball park figure. Exactness comes
later.
ball park figureGo to ball park estimate.
balls 1. n. the testicles. (Usually objection-
able.) He got hit in the balls in the foot-
ball game. 2. exclam. an exclamation of
disbelief. (Usually an exclamation: Balls!
Usually objectionable.) Out of gas!
Balls! I just filled it up! 3. n. courage;
bravado. (Usually refers to a male, but
occasionally used for females. Usually ob-
jectionable.) He doesn’t have enough
balls to do that!
ball someone or something uptv. to
mess someone or something up; to put
someone or something into a state of
confusion. When you interrupted, you
balled me up and I lost my place.
ballsy 1. mod. courageous; daring; fool-
hardy. (Usually said of a male. Usually
objectionable.) Who is that ballsy jerk
climbing the side of the building? 2. mod.
aggressive; masculine. (Said of a female,
especially a masculine female. Usually
objectionable.) You act too ballsy, Lil-
lian. You put people off.
ball upin. to mess up; to make a mess of
things. Take your time at this. Go slow
and you won’t ball up.
ballyhoo[“bAlihu] 1. n. publicity. I have
never heard so much ballyhoo for such aballyhoo