ballsy

[bawl-zee]

adjective

Slang: Vulgar.

ballsier, ballsiest 

1. boldly aggressive or courageous.

   a ballsy gal who isn't afraid of anyone.

ballsy

/ ˈbɔːlzɪ /

adjective

1. slang,  courageous and spirited

Other Word Forms

• ballsiness noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of ballsy¹

1955–60; balls (in the sense “boldness, courage, brashness”) + -y ¹; -sy

Word History and Origins

Origin of ballsy¹

C20: from _balls meaning courage, forcefulness

Example Sentences

Gov. Gavin Newsom made a ballsy threat this week to Texas legislators who are trying to gerrymander voting maps in favor of Republicans.

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Few filmmakers would be ballsy enough to swipe one of cinema’s most famous — and parodied — pieces of music, Strauss’ “Blue Danube” waltz, forever synonymous with “2001: A Space Odyssey,” and find a fresh, poetic use for it.

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When the deal was revealed late last year, Star called the novel a “ballsy and bawdy love child of ‘Mad Men’ and ‘Sex and the City.’

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"I think he had his dad to help him with the letter but it was quite ballsy, you know: 'Brian Epstein’s got The Beatles; you need us', or something like that," says Underwood.

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“One of the reasons I wanted to help was I thought what he was doing was so ballsy,” Cooper said.

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Related Words

• bold 
• brash 
• saucy