googly: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C1/C2Informal, technical (cricket)
Quick answer
What does “googly” mean?
A deceptive type of delivery in cricket that spins in the opposite direction to what the batsman expects.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A deceptive type of delivery in cricket that spins in the opposite direction to what the batsman expects.
Something that is tricky, puzzling, or difficult to interpret; by extension, a state of surprise or confusion.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
In the UK, the term is widely understood due to cricket's popularity; in the US, it is largely unknown except in expat/cricket-fan circles.
Connotations
UK: Specific technical meaning with potential for metaphorical use. US: Almost always obscure; may be perceived as a nonsense word.
Frequency
High frequency in UK contexts related to cricket/sports; very low to zero in general American English.
Grammar
How to Use “googly” in a Sentence
[bowler] bowled a googly at [batsman][person] threw me a googlyVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “googly” in a Sentence
noun
British English
- The leg-spinner's googly completely deceived the batter.
- His question was a total googly; I had no idea how to answer.
American English
- In the niche cricket club, he was famous for his googly.
- She described the legal loophole as a bureaucratic googly.
adjective
British English
- It was a googly question in the interview.
- He has a very googly sense of humour.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rare; used metaphorically: 'The client's last-minute request threw us a real googly.'
Academic
Virtually never used.
Everyday
Used humorously or metaphorically in the UK/Commonwealth: 'Life just bowled me a googly.'
Technical
Standard term in cricket commentary and analysis.
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “googly”
- Using 'googly' to mean 'search on Google'.
- Assuming it is a common word in American English.
- Spelling: 'googley', 'googlie'.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, they are completely unrelated. 'Googly' is a cricket term from the early 20th century, predating the search engine by decades.
They can, but it will likely not be understood in its primary sense. The American sports equivalent is 'curveball' in baseball.
Its extreme cultural specificity. Outside cricket-playing nations, its meaning is opaque, and its metaphorical use requires explanation.
Yes, 'wrong 'un' (from 'wrong one') is a common synonym, particularly in Australian English.
A deceptive type of delivery in cricket that spins in the opposite direction to what the batsman expects.
Googly is usually informal, technical (cricket) in register.
Googly: in British English it is pronounced /ˈɡuːɡli/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈɡʊɡli/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “throw someone a googly (to present someone with a tricky problem)”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine a Google search result that spins and goes the wrong way - a 'googly' from the bowler is just as confusing.
Conceptual Metaphor
A SURPRISING EVENT IS A DECEPTIVE BOWLING DELIVERY.
Practice
Quiz
In which context is the word 'googly' most technically precise?