n.
a symmetrical curve representing the normal distribution

throw someone a curve Idiom, Proverb

throw a curve

confuse, deceive, surprise Dad threw a curve at me when he asked if he could borrow $1000.

throw sb a curve

Idiom(s): throw sb a curve

Theme: CONFUSION

to confuse someone by doing something unexpected.
• When you said "house" you threw me a curve. The password was supposed to be "home."
• John threw me a curve when we were making our presentation, and I forgot my speech.

pitch sb a curveball

Idiom(s): pitch sb a curve(ball)

Theme: SURPRISE

to surprise someone with an unexpected act or event. (Informal. Referring to a curveball in baseball. It is the route of the ball that is curved, not the ball itself.)
• You really pitched me a curveball when you said I had done a poor job. I did my best.
• You asked Tom a hard question. You certainly pitched him a curve.

Curve ball

(USA) If something is a curve ball, it is deceptive.

pitch a curve|a curve ball|ball|curve|curve ball|p

v. phr. To catch someone unawares; confront someone with an unexpected event or act. My professor pitched me a curve ball when he unexpectedly confronted me with a complicated mathematical equation that was way over my head.

throw a curve|curve|throw

v. phr., slang, informal 1. To mislead or deceive someone; to lie. John threw me a curve about the hiring. 2. To take someone by surprise in an unpleasant way. Mr. Weiner's announcement threw the whole company a curve.

curve

curve
see throw a curve.

throw (one) a ambit (ball)

To do article abrupt or ambiguous that surprises, confuses, thwarts, or outwits one. A ambit brawl is a angle in baseball advised to be difficult to hit due to its arched path. Her aplomb and fact-of-the-matter answers threw badge a ambit during their questioning. I had alone been account the arbiter instead of activity to classes, so a few of the questions on the final assay absolutely threw me a ambit ball.Learn more: curve, throw

throw addition a curve

throw addition a ambit ball

mainly AMERICANIf addition throws you a curve or if they throw you a ambit ball, they abruptness you by accomplishing article unexpected, sometimes causing you trouble. Just back they anticipation they ability accept the bang-up ample out, Knight would bandy them a curve. Every so generally Mother Nature throws us a ambit ball. Note: You can accredit to abrupt problems as curve balls. Once you get to apperceive a person's habits and idiosyncrasies, there are beneath ambit balls. Note: In baseball, a `curve ball' is a brawl that curves through the air rather than travelling in a beeline line. Learn more: curve, someone, throw

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Dictionary

More Idioms/Phrases

curry curse curtain curtain raiser curtains for, be. curve cusp custody customer throw one's weight around throw one's weight around, to throw oneself at throw oneself at feet throw oneself at the mercy of some authority throw oneself into throw oneself on the mercy of throw open throw open (something) to (someone or something) throw out throw out of throw out on ear throw out the baby with the bath water throw out the baby with the bathwater throw out the baby with the bathwater, to/don't throw over throw people together throw salt on (one's) game throw salt on someone’s game throw shade throw smoke throw somebody a bone throw somebody a curveball throw somebody to the wolves/lions throw someone throw someone a curve throw someone for a loop throw someone in at the deep end throw someone off balance throw someone off the scent throw someone to the dogs throw someone to the lions throw someone to the wolves throw something back throw something back in someone's face throw something on the scale throw something overboard throw something together throw spaghetti at the wall and see what sticks throw stones throw straws against the wind throw the baby out with the bath throw the baby out with the bath water throw the baby out with the bathwater throw the book at throw the book at (one) throw the book at somebody throw the book at someone throw the book at, to throw the bull throw the bull (around)