slowballEtymologyFrom slow + ball.nounA pitch that is not a fastball or curveball; often a change-up.Steady, cautionary behavior as a delaying tactic.““We imagine that the Russians and the Chinese are going to play slowball here,” said a senior official involved in the sanctions talks.”An easy or obvious target.“Remember: In work problems, use your common sense to narrow down answer choices! Now we're going to throw a "slowball" at you.”verbTo pitch a slowball.To delay something for personal advantage.“A prolonged study is frequently a method of slowballing an investigation until the Senators or Congress who are interested pass from the political scene.”