To enjoy oneself greatly; to have a wonderful, fun, or exciting time at an event or activity.
This phrase originated in American English around the 1940s, playing on the double meaning of 'ball' as both a formal dance or party and as something round and bouncy associated with play and games. The expression captures the joy and liveliness associated with both elegant social gatherings and playful activities.
The brilliance of this phrase lies in its playful ambiguity - whether you think of an elegant ballroom dance or a child's bouncing ball, both images convey pure enjoyment and movement. It's one of those rare idioms where both possible meanings perfectly reinforce the same emotional concept of joyful fun.
Complete word intelligence in one call. Free tier — 50 lookups/day.