Ball off means: To depart, especially quickly; to hurry away; to leave at a particular speed.. It is informal slang, fine in casual speech but not suited to formal contexts. There is no real cause for parental concern; it is descriptive vocabulary rather than risky behaviour. If your teen uses it, context will usually make the intent clear. A short, curious question about where they heard it is usually all that is needed to know whether to follow up.
ball off
(slang, dated) To depart, especially quickly; to hurry away; to leave at a particular speed.
Definitions
#1·Apr 26, 2026
(slang, dated) To depart, especially quickly; to hurry away; to leave at a particular speed.
The ship balled off at 12 knots.
For parents
Ball off means: To depart, especially quickly; to hurry away; to leave at a particular speed.. It is informal slang, fine in casual speech but not suited to formal contexts. There is no real cause for parental concern; it is descriptive vocabulary rather than risky behaviour. If your teen uses it, context will usually make the intent clear. A short, curious question about where they heard it is usually all that is needed to know whether to follow up.
For ESL learners
ball off means: To depart, especially quickly; to hurry away; to leave at a particular speed.. Register: dated, informal. Suitable only for casual conversation, chat and social media. Do not use in business, academic or news writing. A common learner mistake is using the word in a register it does not fit, or assuming a single global meaning; native speakers immediately notice when slang appears in formal contexts, so always check the surrounding register before producing it yourself.
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#2·Apr 26, 2026
(archaic, nautical) To spin rope-yarns into balls, in preparation for making spun yarn.
The ship balled off at 12 knots.
Cluster: general
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For specific readers
Why is this section here?
Slang is read by different audiences for very different reasons. The For parents view re-explains the term in plain, non-judgemental language so a caregiver can understand what their child means without needing the surrounding subculture. The For English learners view focuses on register (when it's safe to use), formal alternatives, and common mistakes — what a textbook won't teach you.
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Other words near "ball off" (B)
ballisticball it offballjuiceball-lessBallmer Peakball of chalkball of maltballoonballoon busterballoon headballoon juiceballoon knot
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