What does the expression the whole ball of wax mean?

the whole thing, everything
The whole ball of wax means the whole thing, everything. Many apocryphal stories have sprung up to explain the origin of the phrase the whole ball of wax, but it is most likely a mondegreen of the idiom the whole bailiwick, meaning the whole territory.

What does the expression on the ball mean?

phrase. If someone is on the ball, they are very alert and aware of what is happening. She really is on the ball; she’s bought houses at auctions so she knows what she’s doing.

Where does the expression on the ball come from?

The idiom on the ball most probably comes from a sport involving a ball, but which sport is up for debate. It may be an abbreviated form of the phrase keep your eye on the ball, which admonishes the player to pay close attention and get things done. This phrase goes back to the 1800s.

Why do we say ball of wax?

Ball of wax may refer to a 17th-century English legal practice whereby land was divided among heirs by covering scraps of paper representing portions of land with wax, rolling each into a ball, and drawing the balls from a hat.

Is a whole nother ball game?

a completely different situation, often one that is difficult or that you know little about: We’d done a lot of climbing in Scotland but the Himalayas were a whole new ballgame.

Has a lot on the ball?

have something/a lot on the ˈball (American English, informal) be capable of doing a job very well; be intelligent: I think she has a lot on the ball and would make an excellent senator.

What’s another word for on the ball?

On-the-ball synonyms (Idiomatic) attentive, active, busy. Attentive; awake; on guard.

When someone is on the ball?

If someone is on the ball, they are very alert and aware of what is happening. She really is on the ball; she’s bought houses at auctions so she knows what she’s doing.

What is the meaning of the whole nine yards?

“The whole nine yards” or “the full nine yards” is a colloquial American English phrase meaning “everything, the whole lot” or, when used as an adjective, “all the way”, as in, “The Army came out and gave us the whole nine yards on how they use space systems.” Its origin is unknown and has been described by Yale …

Is whole other correct English?

The correct version is simply “a whole other”. Actually, this is an example of what’s called “tmesis”. It is the insertion of a word into another word. In “a whole nother” the “a” and the “-nother” go together and the “whole” is slotted between them.

Is ball a sport?

Ball games (or ballgames), also ball sports, are any form of game or sport which feature a ball as part of play. These include games such as football, cricket, baseball, basketball, and American football. Such games have diverse rules and histories and are of mostly unrelated origins.

What does having a lot of balls mean?

To be attentive, knowledgeable, and quick to take action.

What do you mean by whole ball of wax?

the whole ball of wax. If you talk about the whole ball of wax, you mean the whole of something, including everything connected with it. Perry wanted it all the fame, the money, the glamour — the whole ball of wax. Note: The usual British expression is the whole caboodle.

Who is the whole ball of wax settled?

The whole ball of wax is settled,” Maris attorney Willie Gary said. It is a total announcement, the whole ball of wax,” Leiweke said at a news conference announcing a trip by local officials and business leaders to New York City to seek downtown investments.

What’s the difference between a shooting match and a whole ball of wax?

An enchilada combines several foods inside a tortilla; a shooting match denotes a shooting competition; and a shebang is a rude hut or shelter. The first two of these slangy terms date from the second half of the 1900s, the last two from the late 1800s. For synonyms, see whole kit and caboodle; whole megillah.

What does the expression the whole ball of wax mean? the whole thing, everything The whole ball of wax means the whole thing, everything. Many apocryphal stories have sprung up to explain the origin of the phrase the whole ball of wax, but it is most likely a mondegreen of the idiom the whole bailiwick,…