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Balls-out

adj, adv, slang

Definitions

Adjective
  1. 1
    Extreme; extremely great. US, idiomatic, not-comparable, slang

    "He's making a balls-out run for Motor City by nightfall."

Adverb
  1. 1
    Descriptive of the use of a centrifugal governor at maximum speed, corresponding to full throttle. not-comparable
  2. 2
    With great abandon. US, idiomatic, not-comparable, slang
  3. 3
    At the fastest possible speed. US, idiomatic, not-comparable, slang

Etymology

Etymology 1

Usually said to be from the maximum-speed state of a ball governor, whose balls are swung out to the near-horizontal position. Neither balls-out nor balls to the wall is connected with the vulgar sense of balls (“testicles”) except connotationally via folk etymology. (In that vein of apparent vulgar innuendo, see also rock out with one's cock out.)

Etymology 2

Usually said to be from the maximum-speed state of a ball governor, whose balls are swung out to the near-horizontal position. Neither balls-out nor balls to the wall is connected with the vulgar sense of balls (“testicles”) except connotationally via folk etymology. (In that vein of apparent vulgar innuendo, see also rock out with one's cock out.)

See also for "balls-out"

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