English Explanatory Dictionary

balls-out

English dictionary entry

Meanings

adj
  1. Extreme; extremely great.
adv
  1. Descriptive of the use of a centrifugal governor at maximum speed, corresponding to full throttle.
  2. With great abandon.
  3. At the fastest possible speed.

Pronunciation

en-au-balls-out.ogg

Word forms

balls-out

Etymology

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.)

Related words

balls to the wall a synonymous term whose proposed etymologic connection to this one has been challenged
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