balls
- 01 C1 Advanced
- 02 C1 Advanced
n.the courage or confidence to do something difficult or dangerous.
n.a metaphorical use denoting bravery, audacity, or strength of character.
Simple“It took a lot of balls to tell the boss that he was wrong.”
In context“The junior analyst showed real balls by challenging the CEO's strategy during the annual general meeting.”
- 03 C1 Advanced
n.something that is stupid, untrue, or complete nonsense.
n.used to dismiss a statement as false, absurd, or worthless.
Simple“Don't listen to him; he's talking absolute balls.”
In context“The politician's explanation for the missing funds was dismissed by the press as complete and utter balls.”
- 04 C1 Advanced
n.a situation where something has been done very badly or ruined.
n.a botched job or a significant error; often used in the phrase 'a complete balls of something'.
Simple“I made a real balls of that exam because I didn't study enough.”
In context“The contractor made a total balls of the kitchen renovation, leaving the plumbing disconnected and the tiles uneven.”
- 05 C1 Advanced
v.to ruin something or do it very badly.
v.to bungle or botch a task; usually used as the phrasal verb 'balls up'.
Simple“Try not to balls it up this time; we only have one chance.”
In context“If the marketing team balls up this launch, the company stands to lose millions in potential revenue.”
- 06 C2 Proficiency
adv.used to mean 'very' or 'extremely' to make an adjective stronger.
adv.an intensifier used before adjectives to indicate a high degree.
Simple“It is balls out cold today, so make sure you wear a hat.”
In context“The engine was running balls out as they tried to reach the finish line before the storm broke.”
“The opener, playing in just his second Test match, hit 101 off 197 balls as Bangladesh closed on 351-6, a lead of 153.”
“To understand why, picture atoms and molecules as spherical balls.”