spitball

American  

[spit-bawl] / ˈspɪtˌbɔl /

noun

1. a small ball or lump of chewed paper used as a missile.

2. Also called spitter.  Baseball. a pitch, illegal since 1920, made to curve by moistening one side of the ball with saliva or other slippery substance, as perspiration or petroleum jelly

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verb (used with or without object)

1. Informal. to throw out new ideas by engaging in spontaneous and unfiltered brainstorming: Now that the film is in production, it’s too late to spitball an alternate ending.

   I’m just spitballing here, but I think we should ask the interns to test the product at home.

   Now that the film is in production, it’s too late to spitball an alternate ending.

Etymology

Origin of spitball

An Americanism dating back to 1840–50; spit ¹ + ball ¹

Example Sentences

Put down some of each on paper and spitball some numbers so you know what you’re working toward.

From Slate • May 6, 2024

What they’ve done, figuratively, is throw a spitball at the teacher and put their heads down before he can turn around.

From Washington Times • Dec. 7, 2023

“Just wanted to spitball if we wanted to say ‘feel pressure to go big,’ ‘to show out,’ ‘to impress’ — or do we like ‘to perform’?”

From Los Angeles Times • Aug. 27, 2023

Aided by his spitball, he pitched 10 scoreless innings, helping the Giants win, 8-6, after 23 innings, in one of the longest games in baseball history.

From Washington Post • Dec. 1, 2022

Which might explain why I almost didn’t notice something else that was different about today: there wasn’t a single spitball lodged in Cap Anderson’s hair.

From "Schooled" by Gordon Korman

Related Words

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