throw curve ball

Meanings

1. 1phraseidiominformalfigurative

   to surprise someone with an unexpected problem or event that is hard to deal with

   Grammar: Often used as 'throw someone a curveball' or 'throw a curveball at someone'.

   Patterns

   • throw someone a curveball
   • throw a curveball at someone

   The news of the layoffs threw everyone a curveball.

   Just when I thought I had the answer, the teacher threw a curveball with a trick question.

2. 2phraseidiomsport

   in baseball, to pitch a ball that curves as it approaches the batter

   Grammar: Used literally in sports contexts: 'He threw a curveball for a strike.'

   Patterns

   • throw a curveball
   • throw a curveball for a strike

   The pitcher threw a curveball that fooled the batter completely.

   He can throw a curveball in any count.

Common combinations

throw someone a curveball

Life threw me a curveball when my car broke down.

throw a curveball at someone

The boss threw a curveball at us with a sudden deadline change.

a real curveball

That question was a real curveball.

Synonyms and how they differ

surprise

A general verb meaning to make someone feel sudden wonder or shock; 'throw a curveball' is more specific to an unexpected difficulty.

blindside

Means to surprise someone with something unpleasant, often when they are not prepared; similar but more negative.

Word family

curveball noun

a baseball pitch that curves, or an unexpected problem

Commonly confused: throw curve ball or curve ball?

Practice

Make it your own

Write a sentence using “throw curve ball”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.

Explore more words