an English question

@dufresne (137)
China
May 14, 2009 10:11pm CST
In the sentence "If you have them(your negotiating counterpart) by the balls, their hearts and minds will follow.", what's the meaning of "by the balls", and would you kindly brief me why this metaphor has been used this way?
1 person likes this
2 responses
okkidokitokki
@okkidokitokki (1736)
• United States
15 May 09
This meaning is both literal and figurative. The thing being refered to is the male anatomy, and the statement being made is about how cooperative a person can be when you have them in such a delicate situation. In a negotioating situation I would guess that one side has what the other side so despratly wants or needs.
dufresne
@dufresne (137)
• China
15 May 09
Please look at this sentence "Remember that your organizaion is your organization. That sounds simplistic, but, bottom line, it's your ball game. The strategy is up to you, and so are the results.". does the "ball game" in the midst of the sentence also derive from the subtle "male anatomy"?
okkidokitokki
@okkidokitokki (1736)
• United States
15 May 09
not here. This ball game is refering to a sport, I think baseball but it could be any game in which you have controll of what might happen. It is like saying that what you do is up to you. You choose your strategy to win or be successful.
scarlet_woman
@scarlet_woman (23463)
• United States
15 May 09
um..more colorful english basically it means to have them by no other option,they have to do what you ask. if somebody grabs you by the balls,unless you want to lose them,you'll usually agree to anything.