have a ball
To enjoy oneself thoroughly; to have lots of fun or excitement.
Meaning adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
“We had a ball at the party last night.”
“The children had a ball playing in the park all afternoon while the sun was shining.”
“Despite the initial hesitation regarding the long journey, the travelers had a ball exploring the vibrant markets and historic sites of the ancient city.”
Derived from the noun ball in the sense of a formal social dance. The expression draws upon the association of such gatherings with refined enjoyment and high society entertainment.
- 01
ball hog
In team sports, a player who keeps the ball to themselves, rather than passing it.
- 02
ball of fire
A person who is especially active, ambitious, hard-working, or high-achieving.
- 03
ball of malt
A glass of whiskey.
- 04
balls of steel
Courage, audacity.
- 05
balls to the wall
With maximum effort or commitment.
- 06
bust one's balls
To work very hard; to put in a lot of effort.
- 07
carry the ball
To lead in terms of responsibility, initiative, or progress.
- 08
cobblers
[Cockney slang]balls or 'bollocks'
Last updated August 10, 2026