ballsy move
- noun
- /ˈbɔːlzi muːv/
- NSFW
- Sending that email without filtering your emotions was definitely a ballsy move.
But that is a ballsy move.
- But that is a ballsy move.
- And so for them to target Icon enterprises is just a, a ballsy move.
Examples
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Deciding to confront the manager about the unfair treatment was a ballsy move on her part.
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It was a ballsy move on the part of Dr. Phil to note that she was using words she didn't know the meaning of in her answers.
Blog text (2) -
I mean, it was a pretty ballsy move.
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That was a pretty ballsy move.
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Still, it's a pretty ballsy move to send that photo to your private phones.
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That was a ballsy move, you challenging Zeus like that.
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Well, that's a ballsy move, my friend.
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The way I see it, USADA is making a ballsy move here, and why or how would they do something so risky based on unsubstantiated stuff?
Blog text (29) -
The incestuous nature of the mother and son is not glossed over at all, as their first scene shows them interacting as mom and son at first; then they start to make out, a pretty ballsy move in my opinion, and one that may have turned off quite a few moviegoers thinking they were going to see some safe King horror like Cujo, Creepshow, or Cat's Eye.
Blog text (33) -
Taking that risk to start his own business was a ballsy move that surprised everyone.
Synonyms
A bold action to show strength or gain advantage over others
A bold choice that involves a big risk
Antonyms
How Bold
Surface Forms
Morphology
The adjective 'ballsy' (showing bravery/audacity) combined with 'move' (an action) yields a straightforward compositional meaning — an audacious or risky action. Although 'ballsy' is informal/slang and somewhat coarse, a B1 learner who knows the constituent meanings can readily infer the phrase's sense.
Etymology
Ballsy move comes from the slang ballsy, from the word 'balls' — a rude name for male private parts that people use to mean 'brave'. So a ballsy move is a very bold or risky action that shows courage.