spitball

[ spit-bawl ]

noun

1. a small ball or lump of chewed paper used as a missile.
2. Also called spitter. Baseball. a pitch, illegal since 1920, made to curve by moistening one side of the ball with saliva or other slippery substance, as perspiration or petroleum jelly

verb (used with or without object)

1. Informal. to throw out new ideas by engaging in spontaneous and unfiltered brainstorming: Now that the film is in production, it’s too late to spitball an alternate ending.

   I’m just spitballing here, but I think we should ask the interns to test the product at home.

   Now that the film is in production, it’s too late to spitball an alternate ending.

Word History and Origins

Origin of spitball¹

An Americanism dating back to 1840–50; spit ¹ + ball ¹

Example Sentences

Meanwhile, Schiff has been hitting big league pitching in Washington for years, including nasty spitballs hurled by Donald Trump, who loves to throw beanballs at opponents’ heads.

From Los Angeles Times

Official statistics are hard to come by, but Markstein spitballs the percentage of hourly workers in Mammoth Lakes who are living in cars and vans as “less than 50 but more than 20.”

From Los Angeles Times

At a certain point, HBO suggested to bring someone just to spitball the final draft of the series.

From Los Angeles Times

What they’ve done, figuratively, is throw a spitball at the teacher and put their heads down before he can turn around.

From Washington Times

“Just wanted to spitball if we wanted to say ‘feel pressure to go big,’ ‘to show out,’ ‘to impress’ — or do we like ‘to perform’?”

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

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• spawn