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]

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Example Sentences

See Examples For:

ball up

With 13 seconds left and third down at the Braves’ 12, Guess threw the ball up toward the end zone and Brown, his best friend since the age of 6, caught it for a touchdown.

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 31, 2026

John David Annett and JJ Haley, Corona del Mar. Annett sometimes throws the ball up knowing Haley will find a way to catch it.

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 25, 2026

As Mikel Oyarzabal drops deep, Rodri carries the ball up the pitch, attacking the space that opened up.

From BBC ● Jul. 25, 2026

Recognising the space that opened, Anderson powerfully carried the ball up the pitch.

From BBC ● Jul. 12, 2026

He held the ball up, a sign of victory for Clancy to see.

From "Look Both Ways" by Jason Reynolds

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