bowl (someone) a googly



bowl (someone) a googly

To present someone with a question, situation, or piece of information that is surprising or unexpected. Taken from cricket, in which a "googly" is a ball thrown counter to that which the batsman expects. Primarily heard in UK. Dave really bowled me a googly when he asked if I'd like to go on a date with him. The manager bowled us a googly by announcing we'd have this Friday off.
See also: bowl, googly

Common Names:

NameGenderPronouncedUsage
RaynardRAY-nahrdEnglish
KorbinKAWR-binEnglish (Modern)
Wallace['wɔlis]
Gherardoge-RAHR-doItalian (Archaic)
Duha-Arabic
EdmÉ-French (Archaic)