Speakur

Word Pronunciation & Dictionary

throw someone a curve

Word Rarity Uncommon

Frequency: Zipf frequency 4.05 in modern English

Syllables
throw -some-one a curve
IPA
31
Scrabble Score
18
Letters
3
Syllables
13
Unique Chars

Meaning

verb

Used other than figuratively or idiomatically: To pitch a curve ball.

verb

To surprise; to introduce something unexpected or requiring a quick reaction or correction.

Example Sentences

Etymology

From the curve ball in baseball, where a spin is employed to adjust the path of the ball unexpectedly.

Inflected Forms

throws someone a curve (present, singular) throwing someone a curve (participle, present) threw someone a curve (past) thrown someone a curve (participle, past) throw someone a curveball (alternative)

Phrases

throw for a loop bowl a googlie

Frequently Paired Words

throw for a loop bowl a googlie

Questions

What does throw someone a curve mean?
Used other than figuratively or idiomatically: To pitch a curve ball.
Where does throw someone a curve come from?
From the curve ball in baseball, where a spin is employed to adjust the path of the ball unexpectedly.

How to pronounce throw someone a curve

  1. Open the pronunciation page — Open the Speakur entry for “throw someone a curve”.
  2. Read the phonetic spelling — Read the IPA spelling () so you know which sounds to aim for.
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  4. Repeat and practice — Say “throw someone a curve” aloud, matching stress and vowels until it feels natural.