throw (someone) a curve/curveball
idiom
: to present (someone) with a difficult and unexpected problem, situation, question, etc.
The reporter threw the candidate a curve by asking about his past drug use.
Recently, Mother Nature threw us a curveball in the form of a 50-degree day in the middle of January.—Molly Cavanaugh
The sea will throw you a lot of curves, so versatile navigation gear is a must.—Advertisement
Cite this Entry
“Throw (someone) a curve/curveball.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/throw%20%28someone%29%20a%20curve%2Fcurveball. Accessed 14 Mar. 2025.
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Merriam-Webster unabridged
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