bally
|bal-ly|
/ˈbæli/
mild expletive/intensifier (like 'bloody')
Etymology
'bally' originates from English as a euphemistic alteration of 'bloody' (19th–20th century), where the form was used to avoid the stronger vulgarity of 'bloody'.
'bloody' (originally meaning 'blood-stained' or 'full of blood') was used as an intensifier and oath; speakers formed the mild minced oath 'bally' to replace it in polite or comic contexts, and this form became established in colloquial British English.
Initially related to literal 'blood' in 'bloody', the usage shifted to an intensifier/expletive; 'bally' preserves the intensifier/expletive function but as a milder, euphemistic form.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Adjective 1
informal (chiefly British). A minced oath for 'bloody', used as a mild swear or intensifier before nouns or adjectives (e.g. 'a bally mess').
That's a bally nuisance.
Synonyms
Adverb 1
used before an adjective or adverb to add emphasis in a mild, colloquial way (e.g. 'bally difficult').
This is bally difficult.
Synonyms
Interjection 1
an exclamatory minced oath expressing annoyance, surprise, or anger (often in phrases like 'Bally hell!').
Bally hell! I forgot my keys.
Synonyms
Idioms
Last updated: 2026/01/06 15:01