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
Molly CavanaughThe sea will throw you a lot of curves, so versatile navigation gear is a must.—Advertisement
AdvertisementExamples of throw (someone) a curve/curveball in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Messercola said deals like the ones EDF recently announced would likely not be possible in some parts of the country where behind-the-meter arrangements throw a curveball at traditional grid regulatory systems.
—Dan Perry, Newsweek, 19 Mar. 2025
Mercury retrograde in your 10th house could throw a curveball into your career plans.
—Valerie Mesa, People.com, 15 Mar. 2025
Craig Hudson | Reuters The sudden cuts to the federal workforce under President Donald Trump will likely throw a curveball into the retirement plans of many Americans, including those from typically disadvantaged backgrounds like Black Americans.
—Jesse Pound, CNBC, 27 Feb. 2025
But then her kids throw a curve ball and ask to spend the holidays together at a cabin.
—Kait Hanson, Southern Living, 18 Dec. 2024
Bosses, parents, teachers and the police — all authority figures — might suddenly throw a curveball at you.
—Georgia Nicols, The Denver Post, 24 Nov. 2024
Fate didn’t throw a curveball at Justin Hillman when he was born.
—Jeff Vorva, Chicago Tribune, 1 Aug. 2023
Why not throw a curve into your garden with a round garden bed?
—Renee Freemon Mulvihill, Better Homes & Gardens, 29 Mar. 2023
But throw a curveball, and the opposite side bulges out to catch.
—Yoni Heisler, BGR, 20 Sep. 2022
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Dan Perry, Newsweek, 19 Mar. 2025
Mercury retrograde in your 10th house could throw a curveball into your career plans.
—Valerie Mesa, People.com, 15 Mar. 2025
Craig Hudson | Reuters The sudden cuts to the federal workforce under President Donald Trump will likely throw a curveball into the retirement plans of many Americans, including those from typically disadvantaged backgrounds like Black Americans.
—Jesse Pound, CNBC, 27 Feb. 2025
But then her kids throw a curve ball and ask to spend the holidays together at a cabin.
—Kait Hanson, Southern Living, 18 Dec. 2024
Bosses, parents, teachers and the police — all authority figures — might suddenly throw a curveball at you.
—Georgia Nicols, The Denver Post, 24 Nov. 2024
Fate didn’t throw a curveball at Justin Hillman when he was born.
—Jeff Vorva, Chicago Tribune, 1 Aug. 2023
Why not throw a curve into your garden with a round garden bed?
—Renee Freemon Mulvihill, Better Homes & Gardens, 29 Mar. 2023
But throw a curveball, and the opposite side bulges out to catch.
—Yoni Heisler, BGR, 20 Sep. 2022
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 31 Oct. 2025.
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