51Թ

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View synonyms for

spitball

[ spit-bawl ]

noun

  1. a small ball or lump of chewed paper used as a missile.
  2. Also called spitter. Baseball. a pitch, illegal since 1920, made to curve by moistening one side of the ball with saliva or other slippery substance, as perspiration or petroleum jelly


verb (used with or without object)

  1. Informal. to throw out new ideas by engaging in spontaneous and unfiltered brainstorming: Now that the film is in production, it’s too late to spitball an alternate ending.

    I’m just spitballing here, but I think we should ask the interns to test the product at home.

    Now that the film is in production, it’s too late to spitball an alternate ending.

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51Թ History and Origins

Origin of spitball1

An Americanism dating back to 1840–50; spit 1 + ball 1
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Example Sentences

Examples have not been reviewed.

By his own admission, it was a bold, brash and possibly stupid move for someone who barely knew the difference between a spitball and a spitwad.

From

Meanwhile, Schiff has been hitting big league pitching in Washington for years, including nasty spitballs hurled by Donald Trump, who loves to throw beanballs at opponents’ heads.

From

Official statistics are hard to come by, but Markstein spitballs the percentage of hourly workers in Mammoth Lakes who are living in cars and vans as “less than 50 but more than 20.”

From

At a certain point, HBO suggested to bring someone just to spitball the final draft of the series.

From

What they’ve done, figuratively, is throw a spitball at the teacher and put their heads down before he can turn around.

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