Skip to main content
Glite Dictionary
to throw a curve

to throw a curve

1 8.4
To surprise or confuse someone by doing something they did not expect
  • idiom
  • Informal
translation icon : sorprender
  • During the meeting, she threw a curve that surprised everyone by announcing a new policy.

Examples

  • The unexpected changes in regulations really threw a curve at the project team.

  • You wouldn't throw a curve or changeup 40 percent.

    Blog text (16)

  • Can you throw a curve?

    Trouble with the Curve (2012)

  • No matter how good a plan is, you almost always get thrown a curve.

    Matchstick Men (2003)

  • Just when I thought I had everything planned, my boss threw a curve by changing the deadline.

Synonyms

to surprise
vsto throw a curve
∞ 1.0

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

adds a confusing element or intent beyond simple unexpectedness
to take aback
vsto throw a curve
39 4.2

To surprise someone so much that they do not know what to say

is milder focusing on unexpected confusion rather than strong shock
to throw off
vsto throw a curve
31 4.8

To make someone's plans or schedule not work as expected

is more focused on surprising or confusing people directly rather than disrupting plans
to blindside
vsto throw a curve
27 6.2

To surprise someone without warning so they feel shocked or upset

is less likely to be hostile and may confuse without harm
to catch off guard
vsto throw a curve
15 4.0

To surprise someone so they are not ready to react

is about surprising or confusing someone through unexpected action rather than mere timing
to flummox
vsto throw a curve
7 8.6

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

adds an unexpected action that surprises as well as confuses
to stagger
vsto throw a curve
7 3.8

Surprise someone very much

is similar but often also involves confusion rather than just shock
to throw off balance
vsto throw a curve
4 5.4

To make someone feel confused or unsure after a sudden change

is an intentional action aimed at surprising or confusing someone
to shock the hell out of someone
vsto throw a curve
  • Informal
2 8.1

To surprise someone suddenly and very strongly

is less extreme and may only confuse without intense emotion

Antonyms

to predict
812 3.0

To say what will happen in the future

How Surprising

to astonish
13 3.5
to blindside
27 6.2
to throw a curve
  • Informal
1 8.4
to surprise
∞ 1.0
to startle
131 3.7

Surface Forms

throw a curve infinitive
throwing a curve present participle
throws a curve third person singular
threw a curve past
thrown a curve past participle

Morphology

throw + a + curve

The meaning 'to surprise or confuse by doing something unexpected' is metaphorically related to the idea of a 'curve' changing direction (and specifically to a baseball 'curve'ball), but the sense is not a straightforward compositional reading of 'throw' + 'curve' for most learners. Because the idiom relies on a sport-specific image and requires a metaphorical mapping (unexpected trajectory → surprise), a B1 learner who only knows the literal words is unlikely to fully predict the meaning without prior exposure.

Etymology

Throw a curve comes from baseball: a pitcher throws a curve, called a 'curveball', that turns suddenly and fools the batter. So throw a curve means 'to surprise or confuse someone by doing something unexpected'.