curveballs
Life's sudden swerves
Curveballs are unexpected difficulties or surprises that disrupt plans or expectations.
The term comes from baseball, where a curveball is a pitch that breaks sharply as it approaches the batter, making it hard to hit.
Figuratively, life throws curveballs: Just when I thought everything was settled, the company threw me a curveball with the layoffs.
Adjustable interface element
- sinkerWeight on fishing line
- fastballMaximum-speed baseball throw
- knuckleballSpinless, erratic throw
- changeupDeliberately slow pitch
splitter · spin · grip · seam · velocity · movement · pitcher · mound
Not anticipated beforehand
- twistRotating motion or surprise
- shockViolent sudden disturbance
- bombshellShocking sudden revelation
- blindsideSurprise with unexpected force
jolt · whammy · stunner · revelation · gotcha · wild card · wrench · spanner
Something blocking the way
- setbackReverse in progress
- complicationFactor that adds difficulty
- hurdleBarrier to leap over
- difficultyState of being hard
predicament · stumbling block · adversity · snag · wrinkle · hiccup · problem · test
Change to fit better
- pivotPoint of rotation
- improvisePerform without preparation
- flexibilityAbility to adapt easily
- resilienceCapacity to recover quickly
roll with · regroup · recalibrate · bounce back · cope · navigate · weather · handle
slider
Adjustable interface element
- sinkerWeight on fishing line
- fastballMaximum-speed baseball throw
- knuckleballSpinless, erratic throw
changeup · splitter · spin · grip · seam · velocity · movement · pitcher · mound · strikeout
unexpected
Not anticipated beforehand
blindside · jolt · whammy · stunner · revelation · gotcha · wild card · wrench · spanner · bolt from blue
obstacle
Something blocking the way
- setbackReverse in progress
- complicationFactor that adds difficulty
- hurdleBarrier to leap over
difficulty · predicament · stumbling block · adversity · snag · wrinkle · hiccup · problem · test · trial
adjust
Change to fit better
- pivotPoint of rotation
- improvisePerform without preparation
- flexibilityAbility to adapt easily
resilience · roll with · regroup · recalibrate · bounce back · cope · navigate · weather · handle · manage
- unpredictablessurprises, chance, randomness, uncertainty, unpredictables
- puzzlerspuzzle master, brainteasers, brain-teasers, conundrums, enigmas
- What Could Happenoutcomes, scenarios, possibilities, probabilities, hypotheticals
curveballssure things
Guaranteed outcomes
certainties · foregone conclusions · smooth sailing · routines · safe bets
- throw someone a curveballSurprise with something unexpected