curve
above the curve
Being greater, better, or more advanced than the average in the relative field, especially in research or innovative pursuits. The research being done on leukemia here is far above the curve anywhere else in the world.
See also: above, curve
ahead of the curve
1. Better than average. I'm not sure how I did on that exam, but I think I'll end up ahead of the curve.
2. At the forefront of or leading in something, such as a developing situation, field of study or business, social development, etc. The new professor is way ahead of the curve with his research into genetics.
See also: ahead, curve, of
behind the curve
Not up to date or current in some area. Often said of politicians. Can you believe he made that sexist remark about women in the workplace? Wow, he's really behind the curve!
See also: behind, curve
curve ball
1. In baseball, a ball that curves in its trajectory toward home plate. He's a good batter, but he has a hard time hitting a curve ball.
2. An unexpected occurrence or thing that causes confusion or uncertainty. I thought I had confirmed my hypothesis, so these results are a real curve ball.
3. A deceptive action or thing. I don't know, I think her sudden displays of affection are just a curve ball to get me to trust her.
See also: ball, curve
curve to
To bend in a particular direction. I swung the bat but missed because the ball curved to the left at the last second.
See also: curve
curves in all the right places
slang An attractively curvaceous body. She's absolutely gorgeous with curves in all the right places, so why the heck would she talk to dorks like us? A: "Does she have curves in all the right places and not a brain in her head? Then she's just Ed's type." B: "Ouch, that was harsh."
See also: all, curve, place, right
flatten the curve
To slow the spread of an infectious disease so that its outbreak is more manageable for medical professionals. The graphical "curve" indicates how many people have the illness. A sharp curve means that many people have the illness all at the same time, which then overtaxes the healthcare system. Stay-at-home measures were put in place during the 2020 coronavirus pandemic to flatten the curve. We don't have enough doctors to treat all these projected cases—we must take steps to flatten the curve.
See also: curve, flatten
have curves in all the right places
slang To have a attractively curvaceous body. She's absolutely gorgeous and has curves in all the right places, so why the heck would she talk to dorks like us? A: "Does she have curves in all the right places and not a brain in her head? Then she's just Ed's type." B: "Ouch, that was harsh."
See also: all, curve, have, place, right
pitch (one) a curve (ball)
To do something unexpected or deceptive that surprises, confuses, thwarts, or outwits someone. Her confidence and fact-of-the-matter answers pitched police a curve during their questioning. I had only been reading the textbook instead of going to classes, so a few of the questions on the final exam really pitched me a curve ball.
See also: curve, pitch
throw (one) a curve (ball)
To do something unexpected or deceptive that surprises, confuses, thwarts, or outwits one. A curve ball is a pitch in baseball intended to be difficult to hit due to its curving path. Her confidence and fact-of-the-matter answers threw police a curve during their questioning. I had only been reading the textbook instead of going to classes, so a few of the questions on the final exam really threw me a curve ball.
See also: curve, throw
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.
curve to something
to bend or bow toward something, some direction, or some place. The road curved to the left. One of her toes curves to the right.
See also: curve
pitch someone a curve(ball)
Fig. to surprise someone with an unexpected act or event. (Referring to a curve-ball in baseball. It is the route of the ball that is curved, not the ball itself. See also throw someone a curve(ball).) You really pitched me a curveball when you said I had done a poor job. I did my best. You asked Tom a trick question. You certainly pitched him a curve.
See also: curve, pitch
throw someone a curve
1. Lit. to pitch a curveball to someone in baseball. (See pitch someone a curve(ball).) The pitcher threw John a curve, and John swung wildly against thin air. During that game, the pitcher threw everyone a curve at least once.
2. Fig. to confuse someone by doing something tricky or unexpected. When you said "house" you threw me a curve. The password was supposed to be "home." John threw me a curve when we were making our presentation, and I forgot my speech.
See also: curve, throw
McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs.
throw a curve
Surprise or outwit someone, as in They threw me a curve when they said that our department would be combined with yours. This colloquial term comes from baseball, where a pitcher tries to fool the batter by using a curve ball, which is thrown with sufficient spin to make it veer from its expected path. The term was transferred to other kinds of surprise, not necessarily unpleasant, in the mid-1900s.
See also: curve, throw
The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer.
throw someone a curve
orthrow someone a curve ball
mainly AMERICANIf someone throws you a curve or if they throw you a curve ball, they surprise you by doing something unexpected, sometimes causing you trouble. Just when they thought they might have the boss figured out, Knight would throw them a curve. Every so often Mother Nature throws us a curve ball. Note: You can refer to unexpected problems as curve balls. Once you get to know a person's habits and idiosyncrasies, there are fewer curve balls. Note: In baseball, a `curve ball' is a ball that curves through the air rather than travelling in a straight line.
See also: curve, someone, throw
Collins COBUILD Idioms Dictionary, 3rd ed.
behind (or ahead of) the curve
behind (or in advance of) the current trend.The expression is probably based on the notion of the curve of a graph.
2005 Stylus Magazine Everyone knows the cultural stereotype – the Japanese are hopelessly, adorably behind the curve when it comes to Western music styles.
See also: behind, curve
throw a curve
cause confusion or consternation by acting unexpectedly. US informalCurve is short for curve ball , a term in baseball for a delivery in which the pitcher causes the ball to deviate from a straight path by imparting spin.
See also: curve, throw
Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary
ahead of/behind the ˈcurve
(especially American English, business) in advance of or behind a particular trend: Our expert advice will help you stay ahead of the curve. We’ve fallen behind the curve when it comes to using the Internet.See also: ahead, behind, curve, of
Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary
ahead of the curve
Anticipating events, circumstances, problems. Similar to ahead of the pack, it may apply to knowing beforehand what election polls will indicate, or what the stock market will do. Philip Delves Broughton used it in the title of his book, Ahead of the Curve: Two Years at Harvard Business School (2008). See also behind the curve.
See also: ahead, curve, of
behind the curve
Slow to react to changing conditions. Criticizing the Obama administration’s plans to stimulate the economy as too modest, the economist Paul Krugman wrote, “. . . the plan was too small and too cautious. The latest data . . . suggest that the Obama administration’s economic policies are already falling behind the curve” (New York Times, March 8, 2009). See also ahead of the curve.
See also: behind, curve
The Dictionary of Clichés by Christine Ammer
- above the curve
- blue-sky research
- research
- experiment in
- experiment in (something)
- bulldoze
- bulldoze (one's) way through (something)
- bulldoze through
- bulldoze through (something)
- bulldoze into