Meaning & use
threw a curve ball
Last updated
“threw a curve ball” is a form of “throw a curve ball”.
Meanings
phraseidiominformal
Surprised someone with an unexpected problem, question, or event.
Grammar: Takes an object: someone threw me a curve ball; also throw a curve ball at someone.
Patterns
- throw someone a curve ball
- throw a curve ball at someone
- throw a curve ball
The teacher threw us a curve ball by giving a test we hadn't prepared for.
Life threw a curve ball at him when his car broke down on the way to the interview.
Just when the team looked certain to win, the other side threw a curve ball.
phraseidiomsport
In baseball, threw a pitch that curves as it approaches the batter.
Grammar: Used literally only in baseball contexts; the past tense is 'threw'.
Patterns
- throw a curve ball
- throw a curve
The pitcher threw a curve ball that fooled the batter completely.
He threw a curve ball for a strike and the crowd cheered.
Word forms
| base form | throw a curve ball |
|---|---|
| third person singular | throws a curve ball |
| past tense | threw a curve ball |
| past participle | thrown a curve ball |
| -ing form | throwing a curve ball |
Common combinations
- throw someone a curve ball
- My boss threw me a curve ball by moving the deadline up a week.
- life throws a curve ball
- Life throws a curve ball when you least expect it.
- throw a curve ball at someone
- The reporter threw a curve ball at the mayor during the interview.
- a real curve ball
- The sudden price increase was a real curve ball for small businesses.
Synonyms and how they differ
- surprise
- A general word for an unexpected event; it does not suggest that the surprise causes difficulty the way 'throw a curve ball' often does.
- catch someone off guard
- This focuses on the person being unprepared, while 'throw a curve ball' focuses on the unexpected thing itself.
Word family
- curve ball noun
- The pitch or the unexpected problem itself: That question was a real curve ball.
Commonly confused: threw a curve ball or curveball?
threw a curve ball vs curveball
In baseball writing, 'curveball' is often spelled as one word, but in the idiom both spellings are accepted.
Practice
Which sentence uses the idiom correctly?
Choose one answer.
The pattern is 'throw someone a curve ball', so the person comes between the verb and the noun phrase. Option 2 has the wrong order, option 3 adds an unnecessary 'to', and option 4 misses the article 'a'.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “threw a curve ball”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.