| Subject | English | Russian |
| idiom. | throw a curve ball | подставить ножку (также a curveball; (mainly US and Australian English, informal) to surprise someone with something that is *difficult or unpleasant* to deal with (Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary) • Just when you think you have life figured out, it throws you a curveball. (Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary) ART Vancouver) |
| idiom. | throw a curve ball | подложить свинью (также a curveball; (mainly US and Australian English, informal) to surprise someone with something that is *difficult or unpleasant* to deal with (Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary) • Just when you think you have life figured out, it throws you a curveball. (Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary) ART Vancouver) |
| idiom. | throw a curve ball | выкинуть фортель (to surprise someone with something that is difficult or unpleasant to deal with: "Mother Nature threw us a curve ball last night with record-breaking amounts of rain, which resulted in massive flooding throughout the region." ART Vancouver) |