adj
bally
BA-lee
adj
1
A dated, mild British slang intensifier meaning "bloody" — used to add emphasis without swearing outright.
"What a bally nuisance this rain is!"
adv
1
Used the same way to mean "very" or "extremely."
"That's a bally good idea."
How to Use Bally
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishAn old-fashioned, polite way of saying "bloody" for emphasis, mostly heard in early-to-mid 20th century British English.
When to use it
Sounds dated now — the kind of word you'd hear from a stiff-upper-lip period-drama character, not modern speech.
Word Forms
ballies plural
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What a _____ nuisance this rain is!
Etymology
A softened alteration of "bloody," used to swear without actually swearing.