Phrase guide

bowl a googly

verb · 2 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

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1

verb

Meaning 1

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

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: UK, figuratively, idiomatic, transitive

Examples

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

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

2

verb

Meaning 2

Used other than figuratively or idiomatically: see bowl, googly.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: ambitransitive

Topics: ball-games, cricket, games, hobbies, lifestyle, sports

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

History

Etymology

From the cricket term.

Across languages

Translations

5 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Finnish: lyödä ällikällä — to require a quick reaction from by doing something unexpected
  • French: prendre de court — to require a quick reaction from by doing something unexpected
  • French: poser une colle — to require a quick reaction from by doing something unexpected
  • Polish: zadawać podchwytliwe pytanie — to require a quick reaction from by doing something unexpected
  • Polish: zadać podchwytliwe pytanie — to require a quick reaction from by doing something unexpected