balls

/ bɔːlz /

plural noun

1. the testicles
2. by the balls
   so as to be rendered powerless
3. nonsense; rubbish
4. courage; forcefulness

interjection

1. an exclamation of strong disagreement, contempt, annoyance, etc

Usage

Both its anatomical senses and its various extended senses nowadays have far less impact than they used to, and seem unlikely to cause offence, though some older or more conservative people may object. Interestingly, its use in the sense of courage is exactly paralleled in the Spanish term «cojones»

Related Words

• arrogance
• audacity
• boldness
• gall