Throw a Curveball.
English
idiom
Introduce an unexpected or challenging factor into a situation.
Trusted by1.5M+English learners & teachers worldwide
Introduce an unexpected or challenging factor into a situation.
Trusted by1.5M+English learners & teachers worldwide
To present an unexpected problem, question, or situation that is difficult to deal with or anticipate.
When someone throws you a curveball, they introduce something that catches you off guard and requires a quick, unexpected adjustment.
It is used when a sudden twist makes a situation harder to handle.
"Caught off Guard"
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Being surprised by something when unprepared, without time to plan a response
"Pull the Rug out from Under"
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Suddenly removing support or changing plans in a way that destabilizes someone
"Throw a Curveball"
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Introducing an unexpected challenge or surprise that is hard to anticipate or handle
The client just sent a note asking to include three new features in this sprint.
That's a real curveball — let's meet before we respond so we can assess the impact.
How was the interview — did they ask what you expected?
Mostly, but they threw a curveball at the end — asked me to redesign their homepage on the spot.
Did the project go as planned?
Mostly — but a supplier issue threw us a curveball in the final week.
