“Balls against the walls” is an English saying that means approaching a situation with great force or urgency. It originated from the United States Air Force’s involvement in the Vietnam War and is related to aviation terms and actions. The throttle controls the power level of an aircraft, and when pilots push it all the way forward, they are said to have driven the balls into the walls. The saying can be applied to various personal and professional situations, such as paramedics responding to an accident or students studying for exams.
Usually, the English saying “balls against the walls” refers to approaching or handling a situation with a great deal of attention, force, or urgency. The expression is thought to trace back to the United States Air Force’s involvement in the Vietnam War, although some people believe it can be traced further back to the Korean War. Regardless of its origin, most sources agree that the expression is related to certain aviation terms and actions. Like many idiomatic expressions, this one can be translated into everyday life.
An aircraft throttle, or power lever, is a type of stick with a ball-shaped topper positioned behind the cockpit firewall, similar to how the gearbox on a regular passenger vehicle is often positioned behind the vehicle dashboard. The throttle controls the power level of the aircraft by controlling how much air or air/fuel mixture the cylinders receive. The closer to the firewall the pilot pushes the throttle, the more power the aircraft has. When a rider wants maximum power, he pushes the throttle all the way forward, toward the firewall. Thus, when pilots push their throttles all the way forward to achieve maximum power, they are said to have driven the balls into the walls.
Some experts argue that the idiom originated during the Vietnam War and was first recorded in 1969 by United States Air Force cadets. Some veterans have claimed to have used the saying during the Korean War, so it’s possible the idiom dates back to the 1950s. Since “balls out,” a similar saying with a similar meaning was used during World War II, it’s likely that “balls against the walls” originated among Air Force personnel. Going further back, the “balls out” variant may have originated in the 18th or 19th century, when stationary steam engines were common. A stationary steam engine has a pivot with two iron balls, which act as an accelerator and are moved outward, or “balls out,” to increase speed.
These days, when a person does something in a way described as “balls against walls,” it usually means they do it with great force or effort. Sometimes, it means that he’s approached the situation or has chosen a course of action considered dangerous. Similar to many English sayings, this idiom can be applied to a variety of personal and professional life situations. For example, a team of paramedics might respond to an accident scene in a “balls against the walls” fashion, or an Olympic track runner might train in a way considered “balls against the walls.” The saying can also apply to students who spend all night studying for exams, writing research papers, or preparing presentations.
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