ball of wax
Americannoun
Etymology
Origin of ball of wax
First recorded in 1950–55
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
That said, although Burd is optimistic that the proposals will be passed, it is "a whole other ball of wax" whether people will actually follow the new regulations.
From Salon ● Jun. 26, 2023
“It’s the same sort of ball of wax: People getting frustrated, feeling strained and acting out toward others,” said Charis E. Kubrin, a criminologist at the University of California, Irvine.
From Seattle Times ● Apr. 12, 2022
I want to add another layer of complexity to this already thick ball of wax.
From Slate ● Dec. 7, 2020
“Having to deal with ‘Nirvana Inc.’ is a whole different ball of wax than just dealing with Krist, Kurt and Dave.”
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 22, 2020
By the first light of dawn, I poured the stream of black liquid into a small bottle and stopped it with a ball of wax.
From "Ophelia" by Lisa Klein
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
