Question of the Day #780

"We do have an extremely calculated race plan, almost like a quarterback's playbook in American Football. Not quite hail Mary and 'balls to the wall' but very close."

From the 7th paragraph of this article at Super Sport.

上記の文で、balls to the wallの意味は？
In the sentence above, what does "balls to the wall" mean?

答えは、コメントに書いてください。
Write your answer in the Comments.

明日、ここに答えを書きます。
I will add the answer and other remarks here tomorrow.

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解答

意味：
英辞郎によると、

〈米俗〉全速力で、全力で

balls to the wallsとも言います。
注：下記英語の定義にあるように、人によって失礼と思う場合があります。なぜなら、ballsを「睾丸」と勘違いする人が少なくないからです。本当の意味は、下記語源を参照してください。

Answer

According to Merriam-Webster:

US, informal + sometimes offensive :with maximum effort or power: ALL OUT

語源

Lexicoによると、

1960年代から。語源は、軍用機において最大出力にするために、グリップの先が球状のスロットルを防火壁(wall)まで押しつけるさまより。

Etymology

According to Lexico,

1960s. Originally with reference to the ball-shaped grips on the throttles of certain military aircraft (which were opened by being pushed forward towards the firewall).

Examples

• It's either get there when you get there or go balls to the wall. There's no in between. — Joe McKinney, Dead City, 2006
• Look boys, this air raid needs to be done fast and efficiently; fly in balls to the wall, hit the targets, and get the heck out of there.
• When the captain called for balls to the wall, we stoked the fire and pushed the throttle to full.
• <1985 (book review) “Yeager's [[astronaut, Chuck]] style is to push planes and regulations to the limits of his skill and confidence. This means further than anyone else. He is frequently . . . flying ‘balls to the wall,’ . . .”—Time Magazine, 12 April>
• <2010 “If 51 seats was really the objective — if getting the majority is really that important, then let's go balls to the wall for Christine O'Donnell!"—Newsweek, 27 September, page 5

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