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black ball

Stall, close ranks, make it impossible to make a break through

Etymology:

  • The origin of the expression may have been derived from the black ball in the game of pool which once sunken signals the end of the game
458 Views

the police black balled all efforts to get information about a case

Submitted by ntiyisos on August 18, 2020

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    "black ball." Phrases.com. STANDS4 LLC, 2024. Web. 20 Apr. 2024. <https://www.phrases.com/phrase/black-ball_62378>.

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