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

The students, wearing sweats, torn jeans and colorful, off-the-shoulder shirts, spitball ideas with Mass — they are excited and interested, and find ways to incorporate various random objects from the black box theater into their narrative.

From Los Angeles Times

Look, not about this particular show, but I’m certainly worried about a cooling effect when, now more than ever, you need people in the back of the classroom throwing spitballs,” Kripke cautions.

From Los Angeles Times

By his own admission, it was a bold, brash and possibly stupid move for someone who barely knew the difference between a spitball and a spitwad.

From Los Angeles Times

Official statistics are hard to come by, but Markstein spitballs the percentage of hourly workers in Mammoth Lakes who are living in cars and vans as “less than 50 but more than 20.”

From Los Angeles Times

At a certain point, HBO suggested to bring someone just to spitball the final draft of the series.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

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• come up with
• conceive
• concoct
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• originate
• spawn