balled up
ball up
1. To muddle, confuse, or ruin something. A noun or pronoun can be used between "ball" and "up." Boy, I really balled up the directions—where are we? Here are the items I need from the grocery store—don't ball it up!
2. To roll or form into a ball. I balled up my clothes and threw them in the hamper.
3. To cause someone to become confused or flummoxed. In this usage, a noun or pronoun can be used between "ball" and "up." Missing the last page of the directions really balled me up—that's why I'm late.
See also: ball, up
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.
*(all) balled up
troubled; confused; in a mess. (*Typically: be ~; get ~.) John is all balled up because his car was stolen.
See also: ball, up
McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs.
balled up
mod. confused; mixed up. (This is hyphenated before a nominal.) That dame is so balled up she doesn’t know anything.
See also: ball, up
McGraw-Hill's Dictionary of American Slang and Colloquial Expressions
- ball someone/something up
- ball up
- balls up
- involve with
- involve with (someone or something)
- involved with
- arrange for
- arrange for some time
- arrange some music for
- add in