curveball

/ˈkɜrvˌbɔl/
verb
  1. To throw a curveball in baseball.
    • He learned to curveball effectively by watching professional games.
    • The pitcher curved the ball past the batter for a strike.
    • She curved the ball so sharply that the catcher almost missed it.
  2. To surprise someone with something unexpected or difficult.
    • The final question on the test curved the entire class.
    • Life often curves us with challenges we never see coming.
    • The new policy curved the employees, who had no warning.
noun
  1. A pitch in baseball that curves as it approaches the batter, making it hard to hit.
    • She practiced throwing curveballs every day to improve her pitching.
    • The batter swung early, unable to read the curveball.
    • The pitcher threw a curveball that fooled the batter completely.
  2. Something unexpected or surprising that is difficult to deal with.
    • Losing his job right after buying a house was a real curveball.
    • The teacher threw a curveball by adding a pop quiz to the final exam.
    • The sudden rain was a curveball for the outdoor wedding.
What does "curveball" mean? | whatsthatwordmean | whatsthatwordmean