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Glite Dictionary
⚾ A curving pitch 😮 A surprise problem 😮 To surprise
to curveball

to curveball

7.8
To surprise someone with an unexpected question or problem
  • verb
  • /ˈkɜrvˌbɔl/
  • Informal
translation icon : pillar desprevenido
  • During the meeting, the manager threw a curveball by introducing a last-minute budget cut.

Examples

  • She curveballed him when she asked an unexpected question about his plans for the future.

  • So I think that's, you know, my advice, throw a curveball instead of doing another like dance or meme.

  • The teacher decided to curveball the students with a surprise quiz on the reading material.

Synonyms

to surprise
vsto curveball
∞ 1.0

To cause someone to feel wonder by doing something they do not expect

adds confusion or puzzlement beyond mere unexpectedness
to blindside
vsto curveball
27 6.2

To surprise someone without warning so they feel shocked or upset

causes unexpected confusion without the strong unpleasant shock
to catch off guard
vsto curveball
15 4.0

To surprise someone so they are not ready to react

causes confusion by presenting something unexpected rather than only unpreparedness
to flummox
vsto curveball
7 8.6

To confuse someone so they do not know what to do or think

causes surprise or an unexpected challenge rather than total bewilderment
to throw a curve
vsto curveball
  • Informal
1 8.4

To surprise or confuse someone by doing something they did not expect

is the same meaning but used as a verb phrase

Antonyms

to prepare
∞ 1.0

Make something ready for use or an event

to clarify
248 3.3

To make something clear so others can understand it

How Surprising

to flummox
7 8.6
to curveball
  • Informal
7.8
to startle
131 3.7
to surprise
∞ 1.0

Surface Forms

curveball infinitive

Etymology

Curveball as a verb means to surprise or confuse someone, and it comes from the baseball idea of a pitcher who 'throws' a ball that 'bends' and catches the hitter off guard.