Fun term

balls up

Real nautical disaster signaling system, tradesperson relevant

In current usage, any disastrous situation. The balls referred to are NOT testicles. The term dates from the days of wooden sailing ships when the existence of a shipboard disaster, such as plague, lack of food or water, mutiny, etc. was communicated to the outside world by hoisting large-ish, brightly painted wooden balls up into the rigging. Balls of different colors represented different disasters and therefore served as either requests for assistance or warnings to stay clear.

Ed: What a complete Balls Up! Ted: You said it.
View on Urban Dictionary Written by Paul Dellechiaie on Urban Dictionary

Quoted from Urban Dictionary under their terms, with attribution. Definitions there are written by the public and are not edited by us.

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