curve ball
Pitcher's deceptive throw
A curve ball is a baseball pitch that curves as it approaches the batter, thrown with spin that makes it break sideways or downward.
Figuratively, a curve ball is something unexpected that disrupts plans or catches someone off guard: Life threw us a curve ball when she got sick.
Also spelled curveball.
- fooledLed to believe falsely
- gripSecure manual hold
- surpriseUnexpected event causing astonishment
- strike zoneHittable pitch region
- pitchFrequency of sound
spin · deception · rotation · trajectory · batter · unpredictability · game changer · unforeseen · left field · challenge · twist · mound · anomaly · catcher · caught off guard · deviation · slider · obstacle
- bowling techniqueshook, cranker, stroker, tweener, two-handed
- bowlingbowling pin, bowling pins, bowling balls, bowling lane, pins
- surprisessurprise party, unexpected gift, plot twist, unexpected event, unexpected success
- projectile physicstrajectory, projectile motion, launch angle, velocity, gravity
- special movescombo, finisher, power move, signature move, secret technique
- Wii Sportstennis, bowling, golf, boxing, Mii
pitch type/trajectory
curve ballfastball
Maximum-speed baseball throw
heater · two-seam fastball · cutter · sinker · changeup
predictability/expectation (metaphorical)
curve ballsure thing
Guaranteed outcome or agreement
certainty · foregone conclusion · gimme · no-brainer · layup