1 B2 idiomatic informal
To scold or reprimand someone very loudly and angrily.
"The coach balled out the entire team after they lost by thirty points."
separable
ball out
B2 informal separable transitive
To reprimand or scold someone angrily and loudly.
In plain English
To shout at someone or get very angry with them because they did something wrong.
What does "ball out" mean?
One main meaning — here's how to use it.
Usage tip
Primarily American English. Often used in military, sports, or workplace settings. Considered informal and somewhat crude. 'Bawl out' is the standard spelling; 'ball out' is a variant.
Words that pair with "ball out"
Natural word combinations native speakers use most often.
boss coach employee mistake error performance
How to conjugate "ball out"
The five tense forms you'll use most often.
Base
ball out
I/you/we/they
3rd person
balls out
he/she/it
Past simple
balled out
yesterday
Past participle
balled out
have + pp
-ing form
balling out
continuous
Hear "ball out" in the wild
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Other ways to say "ball out"
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