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

Tristan Peters hit a sharp ground ball up the first-base line, and first baseman Freddie Freeman made a sliding stop, tossing the ball to Yamamoto at first to complete the play.

From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 13, 2026

Mainly nipping the ball up the Lord's slope, Smith took the edge of Gay, then pinned Root lbw for eight.

From BBC • Jun. 5, 2026

The play started with Muncy hitting a ground ball up the first-base line.

From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 5, 2026

Carrying the ball up the pitch, he holds it, waiting to commit one of the opponent's defenders.

From BBC • May 8, 2026

I ball up my lunch-bag trash in my hands.

From "The Truth as Told by Mason Buttle" by Leslie Connor