curveball

American  

[kurv-bawl] / ˈkɜrvˌbɔl /

Or curve ball

noun

Baseball.

1. a pitch with a downward spin that causes the ball to drop and veer as it approaches home plate, away from the side from which it was thrown.

   He started perfecting his curveball during his junior year in high school.

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Etymology

Origin of curveball

An Americanism dating back to 1875–80

Example Sentences

We'll sometimes throw each other a curveball with a pick choice but it never gets heated or anything like that.

From BBC

Alongside Anderson’s film were Josh Safdie’s frenetic ping-pong dramedy “Marty Supreme,” Yorgos Lanthimos’ latest curveball “Bugonia,” Park Chan-wook’s South Korean satire “No Other Choice” and two films directed by Richard Linklater — the cinephile homage “Nouvelle Vague” and the quietly old-fashioned character study “Blue Moon” starring Ethan Hawke.

From Los Angeles Times

In September, however, the same 6-3 majority threw another curveball.

From The Wall Street Journal

But when people see his fastball and 12-to-6 curveball, they can only conclude he’s a pitcher to watch.

From Los Angeles Times

But the government shutdown threw her — and thousands of other travelers — a massive curveball this week.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

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