习语可以是一个词或短语，要理解习语的意思不能脱离其文化背景。习语一词的含义甚广，其蕴含的意义往往不能从词或词组的字面意思推测而得。习语在所有语言中都很常见。英语习语是日常英语的重要组成部分。在英语的书面语和口语中，存在海量的习语。
儒琴今日习语（Idiom of the Day）
throw (sb or sth) a curve ball
英文解释
To present (someone or something) with a difficult and unexpected problem, situation, question；to surprise someone or something with something that is difficult or unpleasant to deal with.
curve ball, curveball or just curve
中文解释
throw (sb or sth) a curve ball 从字面讲，就是扔给某人(或某事）一个曲线球，曲线球是指在棒球中由于其曲线路径而使其难以回击。引申意思：给（某人或某事）出难题；使（某人或某事）惊讶；出难题，让人没有防备。
如果有人扔给你一个曲线球 （a curve ball），他们会做一些你意想不到的事情让你吃惊。
该习语 curve ball 有时写成： curveball， 或 curve。
原文举例
Trump’s positive COVID-19 test throws markets pre-election curveball. Investors already skittish ahead of U.S. elections in November now have another thing to worry about: the president’s health. (October 2, 2020 reuters.com)
特朗普的COVID-19检测呈阳性给市场在选举前造成了意想不到的困惑。在11月美国大选前已经紧张不安的投资者现在又有一件事要担心了: 总统的健康状况。
Mother Nature threw us a curve ball last winter with record-breaking amounts of snow.
去年冬天的降雪量创下了记录，老天爷真是给我们出了个难题。
Her confidence and fact-of-the-matter answers threw police a curve during their questioning.
她的自信和实事求是的回答使警方在询问中遇到了难题。
I had only been reading the textbook instead of going to classes, so a few of the questions on the final exam really threw me a curve ball.
我只是在看课本而没有去上课，所以期末考试的几个问题真的让我很困惑。
