|
|
What is Balls to the wall?
Intense, extreme, to the max. The phrase comes from olde-fashioned steam engines; basically, they had two weighted balls attached to a vertical shaft which was connected to the engine. As the engine speed increased, these two balls would be raised higher because of centrifugal force! At top speed, they would be parallel to the ground, nearly touching the "walls" of the shaft! Hence, "balls to the wall."
"Balls to the wall" is a phrase with an interesting origin. Remember, when it comes to etymologies, the best story wins!
Balls to the wall - video
Balls to the wall - what is it?
To go at full (unregulated) power
Steam engines had mechanical regulators that consisted of a pair of hinged lever arms with a ball on the end of each arm, as the engine sped up the centrifugal force caused the arms to raise up closing a valve. If you adjust the regulator so that the arms go to horizontal (with the balls pointing to the wall) without closing the valve you are not limiting the speed of the engine.
When the captain called for balls to the wall, we stoked the fire and pushed the throttle to full.
What does "Balls to the wall" mean?
This term significantly predates airplanes all together. The term "balls to the wall" originated with James Watt's invention of the centrifugal governor used on early steam engines (circa 1774, well before the Wright brothers at Kitty Hawk). Over the years, these types of governors were adapted for use on various other types of engines, including many aircraft engines. Some aircraft have a ball shape at the end of the throttle control, which is actually a clever reference to the governor mechanism, no doubt conceived by a witty designer. It is easy to see where one could get the (wrong) impression that "balls to the wall" would indicate the position of the throttle lever, when in fact, the term, strictly speaking, is a reference to the position of the weights on the governor.
Increase engine speed! Balls to the wall!
Balls to the wall - what does it mean?
Term used to describe an intense, or extreme situation.
Origin: In aviation, the throttles (or power levers) are usually sticks with ball shaped ends. When a pilot wants full power, he moves the throttle forward towards the front wall of the cockpit. Thus, "balls to the walls" meant "full power".
When Dr. Smith's patient suffered a cardiac arrest, the code team went balls to the walls.
Balls to the wall - meaning
To push to the limit, go all out, full speed.
A very colorful phrase, one needs to be careful when using "balls to the wall". Although its real origin is very benign, mos people assume it is a reference to testicles.
In fact it is from fighter planes. The "balls" are knobs atop the plane's throttle control. Pushing the throttle all the way forward, to the wall of the cockpit, is to apply full throttle.
"balls to the walls"
Balls to the wall - definition
term used by pilots. when accelerating quickly, the throttle is pushed all the way to the panel and the throttle lever (ball) actually touches the panel (wall). Hence, balls to the wall.
Balls to the wall - slang
Redman/Doc's blazin' move in the video game Def Jam: Fight For New York.
How he does it is by picking up the opponent, punching him in the groin three times, drops him, then kicks him in the groin.
I'ma take your tongue out & lick my ass with it!
Balls to the wall
Partying so hard that the next morning you literally feel like your balls were smashed into the wall the night before
Matt went balls to the wall last night at Fico Fest!
Balls to the wall
A term used by a hot hood rat pretending to work but really sticking it in the skanks at work
"Sorry, girl, I can't talk. Got balls to the wall."
Balls to the wall
Overconfidence in something.
Jack Pirogue made a bet in a bar in Cincinnati that he would make 2 of 3 darts into the double bullseye or his friends could mail his balls to the wall. He did not make the throws and had his ballsack cut off and nailed to the bar, coincidentally named Jack's. To this day if you go to the bar you can see a leathery dried up ballsack nailed to the wall.
Jack is crazy. He bet nailing his balls to the wall he could make that shot.