curveball

or curve ball

[ kurv-bawl ]

noun

, Baseball.

1. a pitch with a downward spin that causes the ball to drop and veer as it approaches home plate, away from the side from which it was thrown:

   He started perfecting his curveball during his junior year in high school.

Word History and Origins

Origin of curveball¹

An Americanism dating back to 1875–80

Example Sentences

Kyle Kondik, a political analyst at the Center for Politics at the University of Virginia, called the Iowa Poll “one final polling curveball” that “just adds even more mystery” to a campaign where polling overall has failed to provide a consistent picture of where the American electorate stands in a monumental race.

From Los Angeles Times

Bases loaded, two outs, full count and Buehler had struck out Francisco Lindor with … a curveball?

From Los Angeles Times

“That with 3-2 and the bases loaded, I have to throw a curveball now instead of a heater,” Buehler said.

From Los Angeles Times

Asked how the pitcher who threw that fastball to Seager became the pitcher who threw this curveball to Lindor, Roberts replied, “I think it’s been a lot of lessons that he’s had to learn, and appreciating, understanding the pitcher he is today.”

From Los Angeles Times

And on Wednesday, he spun his way out of danger, fooling Mets hitters with a curveball that got whiffs on six of seven swings, including an inning-ending strikeout of Francisco Lindor in the second with the bases loaded; a sweeper that got whiffs on six of nine swings, including an inning-ending strikeout of J.D.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• action
• gimmick
• manipulation
• measure
• movement
• plot
• ploy
• procedure
• ruse
• scheme
• step
• stunt
• trick