| 释义 |
ˈspitball N. Amer.
Also spit-ball, spit ball.
[f. spit n.2 + ball n.1]
1. A spittle-ball (see spittle n.2 4), esp. one thrown as a missile by a schoolchild.
1846Knickerbocker XXVII. 410 They..crooked pins, made pop-guns, ejected spit-balls. 1899W. James Talks to Teachers 92 The spitballs that Tommy is ready to throw. 1939L. M. Montgomery Anne of Ingleside xi. 71 Bertie Shakespeare Drew threw a spit-ball at her. 1956M. Stearns Story of Jazz (1957) xix. 252 Gillespie was also perfecting his spitball-throwing technique while in the Calloway band. 1977I. Shaw Beggarman, Thief ii. iii. 143 They [sc. the teachers] spend most of the time trying to keep the kids from..throwing spitballs.
2. Baseball. A ball moistened on one side with saliva or sweat before pitching, so that it acquires a swerve. (Illegal in the official game.)
1905J. J. McGraw Official Baseball Guide 13 The perfect ‘spit’ ball drops from a batter's hips to his knees or below in perhaps two feet of forward motion. 1912C. Mathewson Pitching in Pinch 20 Some spit-ball pitchers announce when they are going to throw a moist one by looking at the ball as they dampen it. 1928G. H. Ruth Baseball vi. 75 All spit balls break down, but by turning the wet spot one way or the other the pitcher can make the ball break in or out as he desires. 1946Mezzrow & Wolfe Really the Blues (1957) viii. 125 His arms [were] pumping like he was a pitcher winding up to shoot a spitball over the plate. 1976Billings (Montana) Gaz. 7 July 4-a/2 That's what I can do for the Cubs. I guarantee that they will be snarling and swearing, gouging, spiking, mauling. They'll be throwing beanballs and spitballs.
3. transf. and fig.
1888Judge 10 Nov. 68/1 All statements to the opposite effect are spit-balls at the moon. 1925Fraser & Gibbons Soldier & Sailor Words 266 Spit ball, hand-grenade. (U.S. Army.) 1931W. G. McAdoo Crowded Years xv. 225 Their vitriolic comments..consisted chiefly of mere verbal spitballs thrown in a..mood of..sabotage. 1933E. O'Neill Days without End i. 33 They'd turned naughty schoolboys and were throwing spitballs at Almighty God. 1960I. Wallach Absence of Cello 58 She also thought that their impulse to outrage was over-developed. ‘You all sit around and throw spitballs at the world,’ she said. 1981T. Barling Bikini Red North xii. 263 It doesn't make a spitball of difference. The deadline stands.
Hence ˈspitball v. intr., to throw out suggestions for discussion; ˈspitballer, one who throws spitballs.
1928Chicago Tribune 7 June 19/4 The Giants..made only three hits off..Clarence Mitchell, the southpaw spitballer. 1955H. Kurnitz Invasion of Privacy (1956) viii. 64 I'm just thinking out loud... Spitballing we call it in the movie business. 1961J. B. Priestly Saturn over Water iv. 52 No, don't tell me we're not talking about painting. I'm only spitballing while I try to think. 1976C. Larson Muir's Blood xvii. 98 ‘Are you serious?’ Blixen asked. ‘I'm spitballing,’ Schreiber replied. 1977New Yorker 2 May 100/3 The spitballer won't grow into His father's jacket. |