ball up

1. Confuse or bungle, as in Jane got all balled up at the beginning of her speech , or Henry really balled up that exam . This term may come from the fact that when a horse is driven over soft or partly thawed snow, the snow becomes packed into icy balls on its hoofs, making it stumble. Another theory is that it alludes to the vulgar term balls for testicles. [First half of 1900s]

2. Roll something into a ball, as in She loved to knit and was always balling up her yarn . [Early 1800s]

Example Sentences

When liberals suffer one, they ball up like kittens and ask themselves, “Oh, gee, what did we do wrong?”

From The Daily Beast

I was to make Mr. Rhodes understand that we didn't want any more 'tom-fool military men up here to ball up the game.'

From Project Gutenberg

Then produce the ball previously left in the breast pocket, and you will seem to have passed a ball up your sleeve.

From Project Gutenberg

It would have doubled you up to have seen them coaxing the brute to be a good dog and give the ball up.

From Project Gutenberg

The game is to see how many times you can throw the ball up to the ceiling and catch it in the loop of wire as it falls.

From Project Gutenberg

He was a regular boy, and the great point of interest in Sentry Hill for him was batting a ball up the hill.

From Project Gutenberg