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

In the eighth inning, he dove after a ground ball up the middle, as shortstop Mookie Betts hurdled over him, and was slow to get up, holding his right shoulder.

From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 13, 2026

Earlier on in that move, Josh Abe played an important role carrying the ball up the pitch down the right flank.

From BBC ● Jul. 26, 2026

“Playing with my back to goal and holding the ball up is my big strength. You don’t have to be a giant to play that target-man role.”

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 29, 2026

Then Ohtani sent a ground ball up the middle to give himself some run support.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 25, 2026

With less than a minute to go Vondie brings the ball up the court.

From "The Crossover" by Kwame Alexander