The Origin of the phrase "Balls Out"

This is true and the phrase was first coined by an old engine driver named Iver.

Actually I believe the phrase originated from the game of Rugby. When the ball is pulled from the scrum by the scrum half, the fly half yells "balls out!" so the forwards and pack can begin pursuit and support.

Many of those sayings have a less than crude explanation.

The saying "freeze the balls off a Brass Monkey" has its origin in the days of the blackpowder cannon.

The cannon balls were stacked on a brass base(called the Monkey) with recesses in the base for the first layer and then the rest were stacked on top like fruit at the supermarket. When the temperature dropped too low the brass base would shrink and disrupt the whole stack, which would topple over.

For years I though it had something to do with statues.

Now "balls to the wall" I'm still not sure...

This thread has great potential.

Just put at the bottom of every post something about running so nobody gets upset.

Fam is fast.

others agree with that.

http://www.phrases.org.uk/bulletin_board/13/messages/978.html

Canoneer wrote:

Many of those sayings have a less than crude explanation.

The saying "freeze the balls off a Brass Monkey" has its origin in the days of the blackpowder cannon.

The cannon balls were stacked on a brass base(called the Monkey) with recesses in the base for the first layer and then the rest were stacked on top like fruit at the supermarket. When the temperature dropped too low the brass base would shrink and disrupt the whole stack, which would topple over.

For years I though it had something to do with statues.

Now "balls to the wall" I'm still not sure...

I don't think so...

Brass Monkey:

=============

My uncle - lifelong navy man - maintained that the "monkey" is the thing that holds a ships compass and which keeps it level in pitching seas. The balls are clearly visible in this shot:

http://www.clipperlight.com/BIGPICS/BALLCOMP.jpg

Canoneer wrote:

Many of those sayings have a less than crude explanation.

The saying "freeze the balls off a Brass Monkey" has its origin in the days of the blackpowder cannon.

The cannon balls were stacked on a brass base(called the Monkey) with recesses in the base for the first layer and then the rest were stacked on top like fruit at the supermarket. When the temperature dropped too low the brass base would shrink and disrupt the whole stack, which would topple over.

For years I though it had something to do with statues.

Now "balls to the wall" I'm still not sure...

the urban legends sites disagree with that.

and another "no" to the monkey idea.

http://www.snopes.com/language/stories/brass.htm

my coach has always preferred to use the phrase "balls to the wall" and "hells bells"

Balls to the wall is an avaition term. Old airplane throttles had balls on top and when you pushed them all they way to the "wall" or dashboard you were at full throttle.

Tommy wrote:

This is true and the phrase was first coined by an old engine driver named Iver.[/quote]

great who reference chap

LONG LIVE THE WHO!!!

I believe the actual origin of this phrase is from running, and people would literally run so fast...well...what the phrase says.

The phrase definitely comes from old steam engines. Steam engines had a very simple yet ingenious method of controlling the maximum output of a steam engine. A vertical shaft with two balls mounted on rods connecting to the top of the shafts that were attached with another pivot to a throttle brake (picture a person standing with their hands on their hips. There is a pivot roughly where the shoulder is, the balls would be located where your elbows are, your upper and lower arms are the connecting rods). The faster the engine ran, the faster the shaft would rotate. Centripetal force would causes the balls to move outwards, overcoming their own weight. When the engine was at max safe output, the balls would be all the way out and the lower connecting rods lift up the brake, decreasing the power output.

Paddytheirishman wrote:

Balls to the wall is an [aviation] term. Old airplane throttles had balls on top and when you pushed them all they way to the "wall" or dashboard you were at full throttle.

Correct.

The phrase actually originated at a XC championship in Britain circa 2005 with reference to the storming run that day by a certain Mr. Deed.

I thought it was this, and, miracle of miracles, the Urban Dictionary entry has 2 track references in it:

http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=eyeballs%20out

I thought that Lauren Fleshman of the Oiselle flock coined that term

when the engine is full speed the balls are as far out from the shaft as possible

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QGQQHXQ5fvU