curveball

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

throw (one) a curveball

To introduce a problem piece of information that shocks, bewilders, or confounds one or makes it more difficult for one to succeed. An allusion to baseball, in which a curveball is a pitch that arcs toward the batter in order to be more difficult to hit. Primarily heard in US. The end of that trick always throws the audience a curveball. I love watching their faces as they desperately try to figure it out. It really threw Stu a curveball when Olivia announced she was leaving the company.
See also: curveball, throw
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.

throw somebody a ˈcurveball

(American English) surprise somebody with a problem, situation, question, etc. that they do not expect and which is difficult to deal with: Just when you think you have it all under control, life throws you a curve ball.
In baseball, a curveball is a ball that is difficult to hit because it does not move in a straight line.
See also: curveball, somebody, throw
Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary
See also:
  • curve ball
  • 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
"You could hear Blyleven's curveball. I played with him in Minnesota, but faced him when I was in Baltimore.
Sounds of the Game: Former players recall the blast of the ball off the bat, the noise of a certain pitch and the oncoming rush of baserunners
Then comes the curveball, the pitch that makes you swing when you shouldn't.
Businesses will keep receiving their share of curveballs
There are other ways to throw curveballs at the bucks you are hunting.
Throw 'em a curve: to change your luck, you must change your tactics
Cease throws faster than a normal pitcher while also mixing in a curveball and change-up.
A fastball without cease
The curveball candidate is the one that intrigues me the most.
Have Newcastle United really got a curveball candidate who can offer hope? Walter Mazzarri is the latest name linked to the job but Newcastle United insist they are making no decisions at the moment; Walter Mazzarri is the latest name linked to the job but Newcastle United insist they are making no decisions at the moment
"I saw him throw a curveball to me a little earlier that kind of floated, so I knew it was coming again,'' Solomon recalled.
Henderson hard to hit; Algonquin opens with all-around performance
Kudos to Reynolds for throwing such a career curveball, however.
THE VOICES (15) ..... [...]
Pitchers throw various types of pitches (fast ball, slider ball, curveball, changeup ball, other) to strike a batter out and to keep most hitters off.
Relationship between grip, pinch strengths and anthropometric variables, types of pitch throwing among Japanese high school baseball pitchers
However, they didn't count on the curveball that was FBI Agent Pike.
TV CHOICE
The Internet giant is said to have ordered up two new search-related initiatives, codenamed Fast Break and Curveball.
Yahoo going back to basics to boost search tech
I would just pick the cast of Emmerdale to really throw the Germans a curveball. Lisa Dingle up front on her own?
Roy should've opted for the Dingles tonight; PICK OF THE DAY
The story opens in the tiny town of Brittle, Nevada and grabs reader attention with Coco's first-person discussion of a pivotal moment in life: "Once in a blue moon life throws you a curveball you never see coming.
Stay Another Night
CHARLIE SHEEN: Curveball; Warlock edict; pain & devastation in Japan demands us all to dig deep & LOVE THEM VIOLENTLY
twitter Celebs rush of support
We begin with a curveball: This weekend's most interestingly Jewish announcement is not technically Jewish at all.
Jewish in Everything but Being Jewish