screw up — to make a mistake or do something badly; to mess up
Part of speech: VERB
Definition: to make a mistake or do something badly; to mess up
Pronunciation (IPA): /skruː ʌp/
Example Sentences
- Don't screw up your chance to get into college!
- I screwed up the recipe and made chocolate soup instead of cake.
- He always screws up when he's nervous.
screw up
VERB[/skruː ʌp/]
to make a mistake or do something badly; to mess up
to make a mistake or do something badly; to mess up
He screwed up and it blew up, but that's how he grew up!
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🎤Pronunciation
🌳Etymology
Origin
The verb 'screw' originally referred to the fastening device (a metal spiral), derived from Old French 'escroue'. The sense extended metaphorically to mean 'to damage or ruin' through the analogy of misaligning or over-tightening a screw, which destroys its function. The particle 'up' intensifies this meaning, creating the phrasal verb 'screw up' meaning 'to ruin completely or make a serious mistake'.
Breakdown
screw (to fasten with a spiral device; metaphorically, to damage) + up (particle indicating completion or intensification) = to completely ruin or bungle something.
🎵Rhyme
🔗Collocations
📝Examples
“Don't screw up your chance to get into college!”
“I screwed up the recipe and made chocolate soup instead of cake.”
“He always screws up when he's nervous.”
“I screwed up so badly that my mom grounded me for a week.”
📚Related Words
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