bally
/'bæli/
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Definition
Adjective:
- Used as an intensifier, often to express annoyance or emphasis: "Bally" is an informal, dated, and mild British expletive used to add force to a statement, typically conveying irritation, surprise, or strong feeling. It is considered a euphemistic substitute for stronger swear words.
Adverb:
- Used for emphasis before an adjective: "Bally" can function as an intensifying adverb, meaning "very" or "extremely," often with a tone of exasperation.
Usage Examples
- Adjective:
- It's a bally nuisance that the train is late again.
- He's a bally fool for trying that.
- Adverb:
- It was bally difficult to find the place in the dark.
- I'm too bally tired to go out tonight.
Advanced Usage
- As a euphemism: Historically used in British English to avoid stronger language like "bloody" in polite or mixed company, though now it is considered old-fashioned.
- Of all the bally cheek! (Expressing indignation at someone's audacity.)
Variants and Related Words
- Blinking (adj/adv, informal): A similar dated British intensifier (e.g., ).
- Flaming (adj/adv, informal): Another intensifier, slightly stronger (e.g., ).
- Bloody (adj/adv, informal, chiefly Brit): A more common and stronger intensifier from which "bally" is often derived as a softened alternative.
Synonyms
- Confounded (adj, dated): Used to express annoyance (e.g., ).
- Ruddy (adj/adv, Brit., informal): A mild intensifier (e.g., ).
- Deuced (adj/adv, archaic): An old-fashioned intensifier (e.g., ).
Related Phrases and Idioms
- The bally thing: Used to refer to something annoying without naming it directly.
- Just pass me the bally thing, will you?
- Of all the bally...: An exclamation of frustration.
- Of all the bally luck!
Adjective
- informal intensifiers
- what a bally (or blinking) nuisance
- a bloody fool
- a crashing bore
- you flaming idiot