# curveball

CEFR B2 · Noun

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/curveball
Updated: 2026-05-30

## Definition

a situation that is very unexpected and difficult to deal with. It comes from baseball, where a pitcher throws a ball that suddenly changes direction.

For teachers: an unexpected and difficult-to-handle situation or event. Derived from the baseball pitch of the same name, which causes the ball to move in an unpredictable arc.

## Examples

- The sudden change in the weather was a real curveball.
- The manager threw a curveball at the team by announcing the project cancellation just before the deadline.
- While the initial proposal seemed straightforward, the legal complications that arose during the audit proved to be a significant curveball that the board was unprepared to handle.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.