balls up

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "balls up" is correct and usable in written English, though it is informal and may be considered vulgar.
It is typically used to describe a situation where something has gone wrong or has been mishandled. Example: "He really ballsed up the presentation by forgetting his notes."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Sports

General Conversation

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

51 human-written examples

I'm just popping balls up.

The New York Times - Sports

"I just got a few balls up.

The New York Times - Sports

"Hopefully, we don't give any balls up on that hill.

The New York Times

The wind wasn't blowing, and we're backing golf balls up.

The New York Times

We wanted to throw the balls up in the air".

Independent

Balls were beating me; I couldn't barrel any balls up.

The New York Times - Sports

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

9 human-written examples

What a balls-up!

Independent

War is a balls-up".

The Guardian

Gareth Barry likes a good balls-up.

The Guardian - Sport

This is a royal-standard balls-up.

The Guardian - Sport

"We've made a balls-up of digital.

The Guardian - Tech

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "balls up" when you want to express that something has been completely ruined or mishandled. Be mindful of your audience, as it is an informal and potentially offensive expression.

Common error

Avoid using "balls up" in formal writing or professional environments. Opt for more neutral alternatives like "messes up" or "fails" to maintain a professional tone.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "balls up" functions primarily as a phrasal verb, indicating the action of making a mistake or ruining something. It's used to describe how someone has handled a situation badly, as seen in Ludwig's examples.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

30%

Sports

25%

Wiki

15%

Less common in

Formal & Business

10%

Encyclopedias

10%

Academia

10%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "balls up" is an informal phrasal verb used to describe making a mess of something. While grammatically correct, as confirmed by Ludwig AI, its use should be reserved for casual contexts due to its potentially vulgar nature. Ludwig's examples show it's common in news, sports, and general conversation, but less appropriate for formal or professional settings. Alternatives like "messes up" or "screws up" may be more suitable depending on the audience and context.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

messes up

Implies a less vulgar way to say that something was ruined or done incorrectly.

screws up

Indicates a significant error or failure, similar in severity to "balls up".

botches

Suggests a clumsy or inept handling of something, leading to failure.

fouls up

Synonymous with messing up or creating a problem.

flubs

Describes a minor mistake or stumble, less severe than a complete failure.

goofs up

Indicates a silly or careless mistake.

makes a mess of

Highlights the chaotic or disorganized outcome of a failed attempt.

bungles

Implies incompetence or clumsiness in handling a task.

gets wrong

A more general way of saying something was done incorrectly or inaccurately.

errs

Formal term indicating a deviation from correctness or accuracy.

FAQs

What does "balls up" mean?

The phrase "balls up" means to make a mess of something or to ruin a situation completely. It's an informal and sometimes considered vulgar way of saying something went wrong.

What can I say instead of "balls up"?

You can use alternatives like "messes up", "screws up", or "botches" depending on the context.

Is it appropriate to use "balls up" in professional writing?

No, the phrase "balls up" is generally not appropriate for professional writing. It is too informal and can be considered offensive. Use more neutral terms like "made a mistake" or "mismanaged".

How to use "balls up" in a sentence?

You can use "balls up" in sentences like, "He really "balls up" the presentation" or "They completely "balls up" the project deadline".