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[ball game]{n.}, {slang}, also {informal} The entire matter at hand; the whole situation; the entire contest. •/You said we can get a second mortgage for the house?! Wow! That’s a whole new ball game./

[ball of fire]{n.}, {informal} A person with great energy and ability; a person who can do something very well. •/He did poorly in school but as a salesman he is a ball of fire./ •/The new shortstop is a good fielder but certainly no ball of fire in batting./ Compare: HOT NUMBER, HOT ONE.

[balloon] See: TRIAL BALLOON, LEAD BALLOON.

[ballot stuffing] See: STUFF THE BALLOT BOX.

[ball up]{v.}, {slang} To make a mess of; confuse. •/Don’t ball me up./ •/Hal balled up the business with his errors./ — Often used in the passive. •/He was so balled up that he did not know if he was coming or going./ Compare: MIXED UP.

[baloney]{n.}, {informal} Nonsense, unbelievable, trite, or trivial. •/John brags that he’s won the $10 million lottery, and I think it’s just a lot of baloney./ •/"Will you marry Joe?" mother asked. "Baloney," Susie answered with a disgusted look./ •/Do you still believe all that baloney about socialism excluding free enterprise? Look at China and Hungary./

[banana oil]{n.}, {slang} Flattery that is an obvious exaggeration; statements that are obviously made with an ulterior motive. •/Cut out the banana oil; flattery will get you nowhere!/

[band] See: BEAT THE BAND.

[bandbox] See: LOOK AS IF ONE HAS COME OUT OF A BANDBOX.

[band together]{v. phr.} To join a group to exert united force. •/The inhabitants of the ecologically threatened area banded together to stop the company from building new smokestacks./

[bandwagon] See: JUMP ON THE BANDWAGON.

[bandy about]{v. phr.} To spread rumors or whisper secrets. •/The news of Jim and Mary’s divorce was bandied about until everyone at the office had heard it./

[bang up]{adj.}, {informal} Very successful; very good; splendid; excellent. •/The football coach has done a bang-up job this season./ •/John did a bang-up job painting the house./ Syn.: FIRST-CLASS.

[bank] See: PIGGY BANK.

[bank on]{v.}, {informal} To depend on; put one’s trust in; rely on. •/He knew he could bank on public indignation to change things, if he could once prove the dirty work./ •/The students were banking on the team to do its best in the championship game./ Syn.: COUNT ON.

[bar] See: BEHIND BARS, PARALLEL BARS.

[bargain] See: DRIVE A BARGAIN, IN THE BARGAIN or INTO THE BARGAIN.

[bargain for] or [bargain on] {v.} To be ready for; expect. •/When John started a fight with the smaller boy he got more than he bargained for./ •/The final cost of building the house was much more than they had bargained on./ Compare: COUNT ON.

[barge in]{v. phr.}, {informal} To appear uninvited at someone’s house or apartment, or to interrupt a conversation. •/I’m sorry for barging in like that, Sir, but my car died on me and there is no pay phone anywhere./ •/I’m sorry for barging in while you two are having a discussion, but could you please tell me where the nearest exit is?/