à Dirtyoldgit61 :Well . . .you being from the UK and be being a Yank . . .I grew up playing baseball and had to learn to use all the equipment. Part of the catcher's gear is a protective cup made of hard plastic to guard "the family jewels" from any kind of impact. Should one get hits by a baseball in the package and it is supremely painful. These "jewels" are quite a valuable part of one's manhood hence the metaphor.