# Bollocks? what are they? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [January 10, 2004, 12:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bollocks-what-are-they/223819 "2004-01-10T12:12:16Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![trabi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ecae2f/32.png) [@trabi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/trabi)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2004, 1:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bollocks-what-are-they/223819/21 "2004-01-11T13:58:28Z")
The legal case was brought against a record shop in Manchester that displayed a poster of the album cover in its window, not against the band itself. ---
**Author:** ![trabi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ecae2f/32.png) [@trabi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/trabi)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2004, 2:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bollocks-what-are-they/223819/22 "2004-01-11T14:05:26Z")
From Wikipedia: > [@](#): > > The album’s release was met by a hail of controversy, and an attempt was made to prosecute a record shop in Manchester for displaying the ‘obscene’ cover in their window. However the case was overturned when defending QC Sir John Mortimer produced expert witnesses who were able to prove that the word “bollocks” was a legitimate old English term originally used to refer to a priest, and that in this context it meant ‘nonsense’. Further outrage was sparked by tracks like “God Save the Queen” and “Anarchy in the U.K.”, which were perceived as musical assaults on the monarchy and capitalist society, although in the long run such notoriety did little to harm the record’s sales in the UK. ---
**Author:** ![marky33](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e495f1/32.png) [@marky33](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/marky33)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2004, 2:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bollocks-what-are-they/223819/23 "2004-01-11T14:24:24Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by don’t ask \* > \*\*Oh please, don’t destroy one of the few worthwhile musical elements of the album - Glenn Matloch (later replaced by musical joke Sid Vicious) and Steve Jones created the band’s sound. They had already used all the good swear words on TV with Mr Grundy. Bollocks was very small potatoes. \*\* I still seem to recall that the name of the album came from a “Bollocks” uttered by Sid Vicious - don’t forget he was a close friend of Johnny - in court, before he replaced Glen Matlock. ---
**Author:** ![Michael\_Ellis](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/977dab/32.png) [@Michael\_Ellis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Michael_Ellis)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2004, 3:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bollocks-what-are-they/223819/24 "2004-01-11T15:04:16Z")
Ah, they’re 1920’s style “Death balls”. ---
**Author:** ![0ldbill](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/0/a88e4f/32.png) [@0ldbill](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/0ldbill)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2011, 1:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bollocks-what-are-they/223819/25 "2011-03-02T13:08:10Z")
The term bollocks refer to smaller than normal leadball ammunition the use of which gives much less weapon recoil but with no, or very little, effect on the target. It was originally used by clergymen who went shooting with the lord of the manor and other local worthies after church service. Presumably they wished to avoid any possibility of bruising of the shoulder or endangering God’s creatures. The meaning of the word can summed up as ‘loud bang, lot of smoke, no result.’ ---
**Author:** ![njtt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/ecd19e/32.png) [@njtt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/njtt)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2011, 1:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bollocks-what-are-they/223819/26 "2011-03-02T13:14:40Z")
> [@0ldbill](#): > > The term bollocks refer to smaller than normal leadball ammunition the use of which gives much less weapon recoil but with no, or very little, effect on the target. > It was originally used by clergymen who went shooting with the lord of the manor and other local worthies after church service. Presumably they wished to avoid any possibility of bruising of the shoulder or endangering God’s creatures. > The meaning of the word can summed up as ‘loud bang, lot of smoke, no result.’ Cite? I have always understood the literal meaning to be “testicles,” as the others in this thread have asserted. ---
**Author:** ![CalMeacham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/calmeacham/32/35_2.png) [@CalMeacham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CalMeacham)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2011, 1:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bollocks-what-are-they/223819/27 "2011-03-02T13:17:26Z")
Americans don’t use the term “bollocks”, but I certainly know it from reading. I’m surprised people are unfamiliar with the term. I certainly have heard the common phrase “bollixed up”, which I did not realize is a possibly euphemistic respelling of “bollocksed up”. People who used the phrase, I’m convinced, didn’t know its origin. If they did, they wouldn’t have used it. ---
**Author:** ![jjimm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba8739/32.png) [@jjimm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jjimm)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2011, 1:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bollocks-what-are-they/223819/28 "2011-03-02T13:28:19Z")
> [@0ldbill](#): > > The term bollocks refer to smaller than normal leadball ammunition the use of which gives much less weapon recoil but with no, or very little, effect on the target. > It was originally used by clergymen who went shooting with the lord of the manor and other local worthies after church service. Presumably they wished to avoid any possibility of bruising of the shoulder or endangering God’s creatures. > The meaning of the word can summed up as ‘loud bang, lot of smoke, no result.’ Seven years ago I provided an etymology. I have never heard yours. Where did you get it? Plus, its primary meaning is clearly “testicles” in daily usage in the UK, despite its versatility. ---
**Author:** ![Candyman74](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ad7895/32.png) [@Candyman74](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Candyman74)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2011, 1:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bollocks-what-are-they/223819/29 "2011-03-02T13:29:19Z")
As mentioned, it’s fairly contextual. “I got kicked in the bollocks” = I got kicked in the balls “That movie was bollocks” = that movie was crap “I just ran a hundred yards in 5 seconds”… “Bollocks!” = nonsense/liar “I bollocks it up” = I made a mess of it / I screwed it up “He’s talking bollocks” = he’s lying / he’s wrong “Bollocks!” = Crap!/Shit!/Fuck! (exclamation) “The dog’s bollocks” = excellent/the best Bollox/bolloxed/etc. = variant accepted spellings of all the above. ---
**Author:** ![John\_DiFool](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_difool/32/19543_2.png) [@John\_DiFool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_DiFool)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2011, 1:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bollocks-what-are-they/223819/30 "2011-03-02T13:34:34Z")
Johnny Rotten’s zombie corpse lives! ---
**Author:** ![DrFidelius](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/drfidelius/32/3447_2.png) [@DrFidelius](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrFidelius)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2011, 1:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bollocks-what-are-they/223819/31 "2011-03-02T13:39:36Z")
“Bollocks!” said the Queen. “If I had them I’d be King!” ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2011, 1:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bollocks-what-are-they/223819/32 "2011-03-02T13:45:34Z")
> [@0ldbill](#): > > The term bollocks refer to smaller than normal leadball ammunition the use of which gives much less weapon recoil but with no, or very little, effect on the target. > It was originally used by clergymen who went shooting with the lord of the manor and other local worthies after church service. Presumably they wished to avoid any possibility of bruising of the shoulder or endangering God’s creatures. > The meaning of the word can summed up as ‘loud bang, lot of smoke, no result.’ Bollocks. (That is: one variant of the meaning is “I don’t think that’s true’”) ---
**Author:** ![FrWindyShephardHenderson](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/a9a28c/32.png) [@FrWindyShephardHenderson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FrWindyShephardHenderson)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2011, 2:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bollocks-what-are-they/223819/33 "2011-03-02T14:35:47Z")
> [@jjimm](#): > > In Ireland it has even more meanings, such as the similar “bollix”, which is a noun: “you’re only an auld bollix” - you are an idiot of some sort. Also “ask me bollix”, roughly translated as “no damn way”. Also in Ireland to be bollocksed is be very very drunk. > [@jjimm](#): > > As an aside, the primary forum on the NADS spinoff message board for UK and Irish dopers is called “[Talking Bollocks](http://pub75.ezboard.com/fnadsfrm2)” - i.e. “shooting the shit”. Talking bollocks generally means more like talking nonsense, at least in Ireland anyway. ---
**Author:** ![Acsenray](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/acsenray/32/4519_2.png) [@Acsenray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acsenray)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2011, 2:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bollocks-what-are-they/223819/34 "2011-03-02T14:43:19Z")
> [@CalMeacham](#): > > I certainly have heard the common phrase “bollixed up”, which I did not realize is a possibly euphemistic respelling of “bollocksed up”. People who used the phrase, I’m convinced, didn’t know its origin. If they did, they wouldn’t have used it. Perhaps they’re using it precisely because they know the origin. There’s also a similar phrase, “X has gone balls up,” meaning it has been bollixed up. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2011, 5:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bollocks-what-are-they/223819/35 "2011-03-02T17:26:30Z")
Quoth **trabi** (who probably isn’t still around): > [@](#): > > I’m not sure it’s quite that versatile… To simplify things - and this is of course a rash generalisation - in most of its non-literal uses (i.e. when not specifically refering to testicles) the word bollocks could be substituted by the word crap. But of course, that just means that the word “crap” is very versatile, too. ---
**Author:** ![Aro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/b3f665/32.png) [@Aro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aro)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2011, 5:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bollocks-what-are-they/223819/36 "2011-03-02T17:29:22Z")
Wow - zombie thread-tastic! > [@](#): > > However the phrase “The Dog’s Bollocks” has come to mean The very best or somethng really good! This is also sometimes simplified to just “_the_ bollocks”, as in “Ah schweeet, that movie was _the_ bollocks”. Meaning it was great. Not to be confused with the similar “That movie was bollocks”, as that still means it totally sucked. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![AskNott](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/asknott/32/5790_2.png) [@AskNott](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AskNott)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2011, 10:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bollocks-what-are-they/223819/37 "2011-03-02T22:04:46Z")
Another angle, from agriculture… Though steers are male cattle who lost their testicles very young, bullocks are male cattle who reached sexual maturity before being relieved of their testicles. The bulls still have 'em. ---
**Author:** ![Lust4Life](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/ecc23a/32.png) [@Lust4Life](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lust4Life)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2011, 6:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bollocks-what-are-they/223819/38 "2011-03-04T18:35:26Z")
In the U.K. the verb Bollocking, specificly means a telling off. I’ve just had a bollocking from the boss,or, I’ve just given so and so a good bollocking for being late every day. But otherwise the noun is as up thread, testicles or talking crap. We’ve had a fake Brit posting on these boards recently, I’m sure that they’re taking a close interest in this thread. ---
**Author:** ![A.Gwilliam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ea5d25/32.png) [@A.Gwilliam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/A.Gwilliam)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2011, 8:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bollocks-what-are-they/223819/39 "2011-03-04T20:17:06Z")
> [@Lust4Life](#): > > We’ve had a fake Brit posting on these boards recently, I’m sure that they’re taking a close interest in this thread. Cor blimey, guv’nor, I’m a pukka Britisher! Honest, like! 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Candyman74](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ad7895/32.png) [@Candyman74](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Candyman74)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2011, 8:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bollocks-what-are-they/223819/40 "2011-03-04T20:31:09Z")
> [@Lust4Life](#): > > We’ve had a fake Brit posting on these boards recently, I’m sure that they’re taking a close interest in this thread. Why on earth would someone pretend they’re British? Or American or French, or Indonesian, anything else for that matter? How weird. Anyway, additional contexts of drunk and telling-off - concur. I’d never really thought about how versatile that word is! [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bollocks-what-are-they/223819.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bollocks-what-are-they/223819.md?page=3)