switcheroo

American  

[swich-uh-roo, swich-uh-roo] / ˌswɪtʃ əˈru, ˈswɪtʃ əˌru /

noun

Slang.

plural

switcheroos

1. an unexpected or sudden change or reversal in attitude, character, position, action, etc.

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switcheroo British  

/ ˌswɪtʃəˈruː /

noun

1. slang a surprising or unexpected change or variation

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Etymology

Origin of switcheroo

First recorded in 1930–35; switch + -eroo

Explanation

A switcheroo is a surprising change or reversal. If your mom replaced the cookies in a cookie jar with plums, your dad might say, "She pulled the old switcheroo!" Most often, a switcheroo is a joke or trick — a magician might appear to change your ten-dollar bill into a feather, and you could call this a switcheroo. Another kind of switcheroo is simply an abrupt change of direction, like a sudden switcheroo in a movie's plot that leaves you totally confused. Switcheroo was first used, in an informal and joking way, in 1933.

Example Sentences

Dodgers fan Renan Zuniga was caught on national TV pulling a switcheroo with a home run ball hit by the Padres’ Manny Machado.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 23, 2024

And hey, the Surge had a last-minute switcheroo to make her No. 1 this week, so congratulations to her.

From Slate • Mar. 23, 2024

Not everyone was buying the campaign’s explanation for the switcheroo.

From Washington Times • Aug. 14, 2023

The Pioneer Square switcheroo will be similar to early May, when trains detoured around a punctured ceiling section at Westlake Station.

From Seattle Times • Aug. 8, 2023

Dad didn’t speak to Mom all morning because of the turkey-tofu switcheroo.

From "A Mango-Shaped Space" by Wendy Mass