# 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:** 8\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![AHunter3](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ahunter3/32/368_2.png) [@AHunter3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AHunter3)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2015, 7:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bollocks-what-are-they/223819/61 "2015-03-10T19:37:19Z")
> [@CalMeacham](#): > > 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. ^^^ This. Highly embarrassing. Not that I’ve used the word but that I’ve used the word without ever making the connection between “all bollixed up” and “bollocks” UK & Aussie style. ---
**Author:** ![manila](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e5b9ba/32.png) [@manila](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/manila)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2015, 11:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bollocks-what-are-they/223819/62 "2015-03-10T23:41:05Z")
I may add at this point that regarding the etymology of the phrase ( at least as far as the cool kids go) “the dog’s bollocks” has now evolved to “the mutt’s nuts!” That is all. ---
**Author:** ![Senegoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/senegoid/32/6606_2.png) [@Senegoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Senegoid)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2015, 12:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bollocks-what-are-they/223819/63 "2015-03-11T00:06:06Z")
Is there such a thing as a single bollock? ---
**Author:** ![levdrakon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/49beb7/32.png) [@levdrakon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/levdrakon)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2015, 12:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bollocks-what-are-they/223819/64 "2015-03-11T00:07:35Z")
> [@Senegoid](#): > > Is there such a thing as a single bollock? I dated one. That is, I dated one who had one. That is… nevermind. Someone will mess with it. ---
**Author:** ![Kenm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/bc79bd/32.png) [@Kenm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kenm)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2015, 12:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bollocks-what-are-they/223819/65 "2015-03-11T00:15:12Z")
> [@Senegoid](#): > > Is there such a thing as a single bollock? Hitler? ---
**Author:** ![Scytheria](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/76d3ee/32.png) [@Scytheria](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scytheria)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2015, 8:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bollocks-what-are-they/223819/66 "2015-03-11T08:35:28Z")
There’s a theory that the British English expression “the dog’s bollocks”, meaning ‘the best’, is derived from “deluxe box”. I personally think that theory is complete bollocks. My all-time favourite use of the word comes from the final episode of “Blackadder Goes Forth”: Edmund: You see, Baldrick, in order to prevent war in Europe, two super-blocs developed: us, the French and the Russians on one side, and the Germans and Austro-Hungary on the other. The idea was to have two vast opposing armies, each acting as the other’s deterrent. That way there could never be a war. Baldrick: But this is a sort of a war, isn’t it, sir? Edmund: Yes, that’s right. You see, there was a tiny flaw in the plan. George: What was that, sir? Edmund: It was bollocks. ---
**Author:** ![RobDog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/f07891/32.png) [@RobDog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RobDog)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2015, 8:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bollocks-what-are-they/223819/67 "2015-03-11T08:47:33Z")
> [@Senegoid](#): > > Is there such a thing as a single bollock? There’s the phrase “drop a bollock”, which – to complete the genital set – means to make a cock-up. ---
**Author:** ![TCMF-2L](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tcmf-2l/32/16553_2.png) [@TCMF-2L](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TCMF-2L)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2015, 9:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bollocks-what-are-they/223819/68 "2015-03-11T09:15:57Z")
> [@Senegoid](#): > > Is there such a thing as a single bollock? “Bollock” is derived from “Testicle” and it is usual to refer to either as pairs and in the plural “Bollocks” or “Testicles.” However the singular is perfectly cromulent and for example: “That is a fine motorcar. I would give my left bollock to attain ownership of it.” TCMF-2L [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bollocks-what-are-they/223819.md?page=3)