noun

blue balls

BLOO bawlz

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Blue balls (noun) means an aching, heavy feeling in the testicles after prolonged sexual arousal that does not end in orgasm, caused by blood remaining pooled in the genitals. The ache is temporary and harmless, and the skin does not actually turn blue in most cases. Example: “He complained of blue balls after an hour of making out.”

noun

informal An aching, heavy feeling in the testicles after prolonged sexual arousal that does not end in orgasm, caused by blood remaining pooled in the genitals. The ache is temporary and harmless, and the skin does not actually turn blue in most cases.

"He complained of blue balls after an hour of making out."

"Doctors call it epididymal hypertension; everyone else calls it blue balls."

slang Frustration at being led on and then denied, whether sexually or in any other sense.

"Announcing the release date and then delaying it twice gave the fans blue balls."

How to use blue balls

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishA dull ache in the testicles from being turned on for a long time without finishing.

When to use it

Informal but widely understood; the clinical term is epididymal hypertension. Used with a plural verb: my blue balls were killing me.

Memory tip

It is a real, if minor, physical sensation — not only a figure of speech — and it goes away on its own.

Trace the full origin ↓

Common pairings

give someone blue balls get blue balls cure blue balls

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C2 · Advanced serendipity Fortunate discoveries made entirely by accident.

Gen Z slang rizz Charm — the ability to attract a romantic interest.

B2 · Intermediate empathy The capacity to share another person’s feelings.

C1 · Advanced nonchalant Casually calm and relaxed; unconcerned.

Internet slang delulu Delusional — believing something against the odds.

Etymology nostalgia Greek nostos “return home” + algos “pain”.

C2 · Advanced serendipity Fortunate discoveries made entirely by accident.

Gen Z slang rizz Charm — the ability to attract a romantic interest.

B2 · Intermediate empathy The capacity to share another person’s feelings.

C1 · Advanced nonchalant Casually calm and relaxed; unconcerned.

Internet slang delulu Delusional — believing something against the odds.

Etymology nostalgia Greek nostos “return home” + algos “pain”.

Test yourself on “blue balls” A quick quiz — meaning, synonyms & usage →

Fill the gap

Can you complete this real example?

He complained of _____ after an hour of making out.

Etymology

US English, 1910s, blue + balls (“testicles”).

Synonyms

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epididymal hypertension

Frequently asked questions

Are blue balls real or a myth?

The ache is real and has a medical name, epididymal hypertension. It comes from blood staying in the genital area during long arousal, and it clears up by itself within a few hours whether or not orgasm happens.

Do blue balls actually turn blue?

Rarely. Sometimes there is a faint bluish tinge from pooled deoxygenated blood, but the name mostly describes the ache, not the colour.

Do women get blue balls?

Something equivalent, yes. Prolonged arousal without release can cause pelvic heaviness and cramping in women, sometimes called blue vulva. The mechanism is the same pooling of blood.

What is the meaning of blue balls?

"blue balls" (noun) means an aching, heavy feeling in the testicles after prolonged sexual arousal that does not end in orgasm, caused by blood remaining pooled in the genitals. The ache is temporary and harmless, and the skin does not actually turn blue in most cases.