balls-out
- adjective
- /bɔlz aʊt/
- Offensive
- She always goes balls-out when tackling new projects, never holding back her creativity.
- go balls-out
- run balls out
Examples
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It was a balls-out performance; admittedly, I'm a sucker for a light show, but they sounded fantastic as well (plus Silversun Pickups opened for them).
Blog text (20) -
It was also a balls-out attempt to pull together members of Chicago's fractured poetry community, which was in the midst of an unprecedented growth spurt.
Academic text (2012) -
You go down shooting, balls out, every time.
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Plays balls out every play.
Blog text (34) -
- I think you either go balls out or you scrap it.
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It's simply a press play and go balls out for thirty minutes type of album.
Blog text (9) -
I only have one speed: balls-out.
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And I'm counting on you to go balls-out.
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You fight balls out.
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He approached the challenge with a balls-out attitude, giving it everything he had.
Synonyms
Very brave and willing to take big risks
Antonyms
How Bold
Surface Forms
Etymology
Balls-out is slang and a bit rude; it uses balls (a crude word for 'bravery' or daring) and out meaning 'completely' or 'without holding back'. So to be balls-out is to act with full force and wild energy, which explains its modern meaning of extreme, reckless effort.