balls
Britishplural noun
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the testicles
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so as to be rendered powerless
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nonsense; rubbish
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courage; forcefulness
interjection
Usage
Both its anatomical senses and its various extended senses nowadays have far less impact than they used to, and seem unlikely to cause offence, though some older or more conservative people may object. Interestingly, its use in the sense of courage is exactly paralleled in the Spanish term «cojones»
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.
He started playing through West Ham's defensive line and hit a couple of great balls that got Arsenal in on goal.
From BBC • May 10, 2026
England fly-half Zoe Harrison says the introduction of smaller balls for this autumn's WXV Global Series is "the worst decision someone has ever made".
From BBC • May 6, 2026
Should batters keep drawing bases on balls at this pace, 2026 would finish with the second-highest walk rate in the past 70 years.
From The Wall Street Journal • May 6, 2026
This fearless update takes its inspiration from the Harlem drag balls that provided a showcase for LGBTQ+ fabulosity.
From Los Angeles Times • May 1, 2026
Eisenhower used to put on golf cleats at his desk and walk outside to hit a few balls.
From "Fallout: Spies, Superbombs, and the Ultimate Cold War Showdown" by Steve Sheinkin
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.
