bowl a googly

English

Etymology

From the cricket term

Verb

bowl a googly

1. (transitive, idiomatic, UK, 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.

Usage notes

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

Synonyms

• catch unawares
• catch offguard

Translations

to require a quick reaction from by doing something unexpected

• Finnish: lyödä ällikällä (fi)
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See also

• throw for a loop
• throw somebody a curve