I know we are all drawn to this place by our affection for words.
And discovering the origin of words is one thing I find quite fascinating.
But, there are many phrases we use that have obscure and even comically roots.
I was suprised (pleasantly) to learn the origin of the expression:
"Balls to the wall" It comes from the early days of air warfare, where the throttle controls for individual engines were levers - each with a ball on the top - and when they were pressed all the way forward; touching the firewall, the ship was at full throttle.
BALLS TO THE WALL.

Anyone have others?

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Did you ever wonder...?

I've never head that expression spoken to mean "fast".

Actually, the only times I've ever heard it is on television when some angry person will say to the person he's angry at, "I'll nail your balls to the wall"

I've never heard anybody say it in everyday life.

I've heard, and used it as PT originatated it.

So how do you say it?

Is is like "Yay, I love my new car. I get balls to the wall!" ?

See also this.

Quote:

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So how do you say it?

Is is like "Yay, I love my new car. I get balls to the wall!" ?

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no, no. like "let's go! balls to the wall!"