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blue balls

(slang) A cramp-like ache in the testicles and prostate region caused by prolonged sexual arousal; testicles experiencing such an ache.

ˈblu ˈbɔlzDocumented since 1910s1910sSilenthistoricalCurrent187 viewsLast reviewed Jun 29, 2026+ Add a definition
🗺️ Regional & Other
3 definitions
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Etymology timeline

Born ~1910 · 1 year of recorded use
1910Born2026: 2 citationsToday, 2026

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Definitions

#1·Apr 26, 2026

(slang) A cramp-like ache in the testicles and prostate region caused by prolonged sexual arousal; testicles experiencing such an ache.

Origin: US English, 1910s,. Origin information sourced from Wiktionary contributors (CC BY-SA 4.0).
For parents

"blue balls" means: A cramp-like ache in the testicles and prostate region caused by prolonged sexual arousal; testicles experiencing such an ache.. The term has a sexual reference, so parents may want to know the context in which a child uses or hears it. In most cases it is part of normal teenage curiosity rather than a concrete worry. A short, non-judgemental conversation about consent, respect and online safety is usually the best response. Look at the wider pattern of behaviour, not the one word.

For ESL learners

"blue balls" means: A cramp-like ache in the testicles and prostate region caused by prolonged sexual arousal; testicles experiencing such an ache.. Register: informal slang, fine in casual conversation, texting and social media but not in academic essays, business writing or formal speech. A common non-native mistake is to use the word in the wrong register, or to assume one fixed meaning when it is actually polysemous; always check the surrounding register and the audience before producing it yourself. In formal writing, prefer a neutral synonym or a short descriptive phrase, and use this word only when you have heard or read it being used naturally in a comparable context.

Cluster: horny
Heard in the wild
  • “This Iran war has been so close to ending for so long, I'm beginning to get blue balls.”

    — Bluesky· May 2026
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#2·Apr 26, 2026

(slang, figuratively) Unfulfilled sexual desire.

It invades lymphatics, is carried to the inguinal lymph nodes, where multiple abscesses, buboes, or "blue balls" appear. A brawny edema of the labia, with deeply penetrating destructive ulcers may occur in the late stages.
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#3·Apr 26, 2026

(US, dated, slang) Buboes (in a person of any sex) caused by a sexually transmitted infection; the infection that causes them.

Heard in the wild
  • “G-mart is always giving me comic book pre-order blue balls. Let's go, it's passed May 1st let me pre-order. 😁😁😁”

    — Bluesky· May 2026
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For specific readers

"blue balls" means: A cramp-like ache in the testicles and prostate region caused by prolonged sexual arousal; testicles experiencing such an ache.. The term has a sexual reference, so parents may want to know the context in which a child uses or hears it. In most cases it is part of normal teenage curiosity rather than a concrete worry. A short, non-judgemental conversation about consent, respect and online safety is usually the best response. Look at the wider pattern of behaviour, not the one word.

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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Regional slang from around the English-speaking world — British, Australian, Irish, Caribbean, Nigerian, Filipino, AAVE, and the hyphenated-English dialects that make the internet sound local.

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