bowl a googly

Definition from Wiktionary, a free dictionary

Contents 1 English 1.1 Etymology 1.2 Verb 1.2.1 Usage notes 1.2.2 Synonyms 1.3 See also

[edit] English

[edit] Etymology

From the cricket term

[edit] Verb

to bowl a googly

1. (idiomatic, figuratively) to surprise (someone); to introduce (to someone) something unexpected, underhand or requiring a quick reaction or correction.

   Fred bowled me a googly when he asked me to explain those statistics in the meeting.

[edit] Usage notes

• The object of bowl a googly is put immediately after "bowl" (as in the example given here).

[edit] Synonyms

• catch unawares
• catch offguard

[edit] See also

• throw for a loop
• throw somebody a curve