lob

Everyday

1. To lob something is to throw or hit it high in the air, in a slow curve. tree →
2. In tennis, football and other games, a lob is a high shot over an opponent's head. tree →
3. (informal, UK and Australia) To lob something is to throw it carelessly: «Lob it in the bin». tree →
4. (informal, Australia and New Zealand) To lob or lob in is to arrive, often unexpectedly: «He lobbed in at midnight». tree →

In the lessons

In PE and sport a lob goes over a defender or goalkeeper. In science lessons the curve of a lobbed ball is a parabola. In everyday talk «lob it here» means «throw it to me». Phrases: «lob the ball», «lob over», «lob in».

Examples

• She lobbed the ball over the goalkeeper's head. tree →
• His lob landed just inside the line. tree →
• «Lob us the keys, would you?» tree →
• He lobbed his bag onto the bed. tree →
• The cousins lobbed in for lunch without warning. tree →
• The snowball was lobbed high over the fence. tree →
• A lob is hard to return if you are close to the net. tree →

Note

Double «b»: lobbed, lobbing. Informal senses are friendly, not rude. In maths and science, a lobbed ball goes up, slows, stops for an instant at the top and comes down along a curved path.