curve ball

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
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.
See also:
  • curveball
  • have a ball
  • v-ball
  • put some reverse English on it
  • in play
  • in/out of play
  • advance the ball
  • bottom edge
  • bounce (something) back and forth
  • bounce back and forth
References in periodicals archive
It is most likely that the denunciation of the curve ball came from Professor Norton.
"With a deliberate attempt to deceive": correcting a quotation misattributed to Charles Eliot, president of Harvard
On the show itself, Curve Ball admitted that he lied.
With a name like Curve Ball ..
One particular curve ball took shape when he was tasked in 2001 to lead the acquisition of several commercial ammunition companies.
Mark DeYoung: propelling Utah's aviation industry
Curve Ball is an Iraqi defector named Rafid Ahmed Alwan, who arrived at a German refugee center in 1999.
Throwing 'Curveball': CBS Reveals Real Name of False Iraqi Source
Even if North Korea continues to throw curve balls, the important thing is to gauge its true intentions.
Japanese editorial excerpts -3-
Whenever I hear about a thrower who has a curve ball (or any other breaking pitch), I will discover that the pitch is actually a fastball that goes inside, outside, up, or down!
The pole as a tool for fastpitch softball
Scientists announced that humans have a hard time predicting the path of a curve ball. Psychologists at Texas A&M University found that male monkeys prefer playing with toy cars and balls, whereas female monkeys are more interested in dolls and cooking pots.
Engineers funded by the United States military were working on electrical brain implants that will enable the creation of remote-controlled sharks
"If a pitcher throws a curve ball and a batter has keen eyesight, he might be able to see the index and middle fingers roll across the face of the ball as the pitcher snaps it off."
Mr. Wizard at bat
And NCLB throws a curve ball with increased pressure to focus on core academics.
Healthy directions: the 'new PE' tackles childhood obesity, stretches the mind and body and maximizes human and financial resources
BALCO threw the testing labs a curve ball by developing a new anabolic steroid called tetrahydrogestrinone (teh-truh-high-dro-jes-trih-nohn).
The incredible bulk: Major League Baseball struggles to beat performance-enhancing drugs
Life has a way of slinging an inside curve ball at your chin every once in a while, giving you a wake up call.
Tragedies of war
Yes, Mother Nature threw everyone in southern states a curve ball last year, with more rain and hurricanes than usual; meanwhile the western states could really use that rain!
Is there a "perfect place" to live?
WHILE PRESIDENT BUSH IS out trying to convince voters that the economy is picking up and new jobs are being created, his own people are throwing him a curve ball.
Job guessing
AIDS has been the great curve ball. Still, in my heart I have always had this deep-seated sentiment that what HIV/AIDS research and medicine lack most is the scientific authority that comes from sufficient process and analytical thinking.
AIDS and cancer: one patient's story
Caption: Break out your mitt and get ready to catch the new Curve Ball from Pyramid Ales.
Break out your mitt and get ready to catch the new Curve Ball from Pyramid Ales. (Weekly Specialty Beer Report)