throw (someone) a curve/curveball

idiom

: to present (someone) with a difficult and unexpected problem, situation, question, etc.

The reporter threw the candidate a curve by asking about his past drug use.

Recently, Mother Nature threw us a curveball in the form of a 50-degree day in the middle of January.

—Molly Cavanaugh

The sea will throw you a lot of curves, so versatile navigation gear is a must.

—Advertisement

Examples of throw (someone) a curve/curveball in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Messercola said deals like the ones EDF recently announced would likely not be possible in some parts of the country where behind-the-meter arrangements throw a curveball at traditional grid regulatory systems. —Dan Perry, Newsweek, 19 Mar. 2025

Mercury retrograde in your 10th house could throw a curveball into your career plans. —Valerie Mesa, People.com, 15 Mar. 2025

Craig Hudson | Reuters The sudden cuts to the federal workforce under President Donald Trump will likely throw a curveball into the retirement plans of many Americans, including those from typically disadvantaged backgrounds like Black Americans. —Jesse Pound, CNBC, 27 Feb. 2025

But then her kids throw a curve ball and ask to spend the holidays together at a cabin. —Kait Hanson, Southern Living, 18 Dec. 2024

Bosses, parents, teachers and the police — all authority figures — might suddenly throw a curveball at you. —Georgia Nicols, The Denver Post, 24 Nov. 2024

Fate didn’t throw a curveball at Justin Hillman when he was born. —Jeff Vorva, Chicago Tribune, 1 Aug. 2023

Why not throw a curve into your garden with a round garden bed? —Renee Freemon Mulvihill, Better Homes & Gardens, 29 Mar. 2023

But throw a curveball, and the opposite side bulges out to catch. —Yoni Heisler, BGR, 20 Sep. 2022