Quote Rinkadink="Rinkadink"Doesn't that come from this, though?
So instead of 'reefed the bit', it's 'reefed the ball'?'"
I think 'reefed' comes from the old scottish 'reiving' which was the stealing of cattle/horses back in the 17th and 18th centuries. Reiving is quite close to reefing in sound.
'Without a doubt' though you'd think his bosses at Sky would 'get the message out' about him 'losing the plot' with the overuse of clichés and 'give them the rounds of the kitchen' if it doesn't stop.