Screwball: meaning, definitions and examples
๐คช
screwball
[ หskruหbษหl ]
informal term
A screwball is a person who behaves in an eccentric or unpredictable manner. It is often used to describe someone who is quirky or unconventional in their actions and thoughts.
Synonyms
Examples of usage
- He's such a screwball; you never know what he'll do next.
- She has a screwball sense of humor that keeps everyone guessing.
- The screwball made a scene at the party, entertaining everyone with his antics.
sports term
In baseball, a screwball is a type of pitch that curves in the opposite direction of a curveball, usually breaking inwards towards a right-handed batter when thrown by a right-handed pitcher.
Synonyms
Examples of usage
- He threw a nasty screwball that completely fooled the batter.
- Her favorite pitch to throw is the screwball; it catches hitters off guard.
- The screwball is less commonly thrown than other pitches but can be very effective.
Translations
Translations of the word "screwball" in other languages:
๐ต๐น screwball
๐ฎ๐ณ เคธเฅเคเฅเคฐเฅเคฌเคฒ
๐ฉ๐ช Screwball
๐ฎ๐ฉ screwball
๐บ๐ฆ ะฝะตะทะฒะธัะฐะนะฝะฐ ะปัะดะธะฝะฐ
๐ต๐ฑ screwball
๐ฏ๐ต ในใฏใชใฅใผใใผใซ
๐ซ๐ท screwball
๐ช๐ธ screwball
๐น๐ท screwball
๐ฐ๐ท ์คํฌ๋ฅ๋ณผ
๐ธ๐ฆ ุณูู ุจุงู
๐จ๐ฟ screwball
๐ธ๐ฐ screwball
๐จ๐ณ ่บไธ็
๐ธ๐ฎ screwball
๐ฎ๐ธ screwball
๐ฐ๐ฟ screwball
๐ฌ๐ช screwball
๐ฆ๐ฟ screwball
๐ฒ๐ฝ screwball
Etymology
The term 'screwball' originally emerged in the early 20th century in American baseball slang to describe a type of pitch that spins in an unusual direction. The word itself combines 'screw', referring to the spiral motion imparted on the ball, and 'ball', indicating its nature as a sporting object. As the term gained popularity, it began to see broader usage in American English to describe eccentric or unpredictable individuals, first appearing in literature in the 1930s. This shift in meaning reflects the quirky, unexpected nature of both the pitch and the people it describes. The screwball pitch itself became a subject of fascination within baseball because of its rarity and the skill required to master it. Over time, its use in everyday language has made 'screwball' synonymous with odd behavior, showcasing how terms can evolve beyond their original contexts and gain new cultural significance.