ball up

Idioms  

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

2. 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]

---

Example Sentences

They did not hold enough balls up, or give enough options in behind.

From BBC

"Obviously it starts on defense. We played faster, we didn't walk the ball up. At the end of fourth and overtime we executed."

From Barron's

My own hands, which seconds ago were balled up and ready to start swinging, dropped to my sides like a couple of overripe apples from a tree.

From Literature

The Lakers coughed the ball up 21 times against the Pistons the other night.

From Los Angeles Times

Picking the ball up out of the hand will be crucial for England this week, especially given how much faster Starc bowls with a pink ball.

From BBC