lob
B2Neutral to informal; technical in sports/computing contexts.
Definition
Meaning
to throw or hit something, especially a ball, in a slow, high arc
In tennis/sports: a defensive high shot; In computing: to send data in large packets; In politics: to raise a challenging question; In military: to launch a projectile in a high trajectory.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
The core sense implies lack of force or speed, often a deliberate, tactical arc. In computing, 'lob' suggests a heavy, one-off data transfer.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
More common in UK sports commentary (tennis, cricket). In US, often specific to tennis or casual throwing.
Connotations
UK: Often tactical in cricket/tennis. US: Can imply a lazy or unskilled throw in everyday contexts.
Frequency
Moderately higher frequency in UK English due to cricket usage.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
Subject + lob + object + prepositional phrase (into/over/towards)Subject + lob + object + adverb (over)Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “Lob a grenade (into the conversation)”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Rare. 'He lobbed a difficult question at the CEO.'
Academic
Very rare outside sports science.
Everyday
Common for throwing objects in a high arc. 'He lobbed the keys over the fence.'
Technical
Sports: a specific shot. Computing: 'lob' data type (Large Object).
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- The cricketer lobbed the ball back to the bowler.
- She lobbed a clever question during the debate.
American English
- He lobbed the tennis ball high over his opponent's head.
- The kid lobbed a snowball over the car.
adverb
British English
- (Not standard)
American English
- (Not standard)
adjective
British English
- (Rare as standalone adjective; used in compounds like 'lob shot')
American English
- (Rare as standalone adjective; used in compounds like 'lob shot')
Examples
By CEFR Level
- Can you lob the ball to me?
- The child lobbed the stone into the pond.
- The player lobbed the ball over the defender's head.
- He lobbed a water balloon from the balcony.
- She executed a perfect defensive lob to get back into the point.
- Protesters lobbed insults at the politicians.
- The hacker lobbed a massive data packet to crash the server.
- The journalist lobbed a series of provocative questions at the minister.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
LOB looks like a LOng Ball – a high, arcing throw.
Conceptual Metaphor
THROWING IS COMMUNICATING (e.g., lob a question).
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Do not confuse with 'лоб' (forehead). The verb is not 'бросать' generally, but 'перебрасывать/подбрасывать (по высокой траектории)'.
Common Mistakes
- Using 'lob' for a fast, direct throw.
- Incorrect: He lobbed the dart at the board. (Darts are thrown directly).
Practice
Quiz
In which context is 'lob' LEAST appropriate?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, while most common in sports (tennis, cricket), it's used for any high-arc throw and metaphorically (lob a question).
'Lob' implies a higher, more pronounced arc, often tactical. 'Toss' is more general and can be gentler or lower.
Yes, especially in sports. 'She hit a winning lob.' or 'He returned the lob with a smash.'
It's a separate acronym (Large Object/Binary), but the verb in computing slang borrows the 'throw a large thing' metaphor.