screw up
(redirected from screwups)screw up
1. verb To make a big mistake or blunder; to mishandle or ruin something. I'm sorry, I really screwed up. Please forgive me! Wow, it looks like they really screwed up this time.
2. verb To ruin, damage, or mishandle something, especially inadvertently. In this usage, a noun or pronoun can be used between "screw" and "up." I can't believe you screwed that deal up! I screwed up my computer somehow—could you come take a look at it?
3. verb To damage or confuse someone's emotional or mental state. In this usage, a noun or pronoun can be used between "screw" and "up." Living with abusive parents really screwed him up. The divorce screwed me up for a long time.
4. verb To interfere with someone or their ability to do something. In this usage, a noun or pronoun can be used between "screw" and "up." I have to concentrate while I do this, so please don't talk and screw me up!
5. noun A huge mistake, blunder, or mishandling. In this usage, the phrase is usually hyphenated or spelled as one word. Another screwup like that and you're fired! I don't care whose screw-up it was—just fix it!
6. noun A person who is prone to making big mistakes or blunders; someone who can't get anything right. In this usage, the phrase is usually hyphenated or spelled as one word. The way I see it, if you treat someone like a screwup their entire life, they're going to eventually become one. I can't believe he married such a screw-up like that.
screwed up
informal
1. Not functioning or operating properly; damaged or injured. Hey, would you mind having a look at my computer? It's really screwed up. My arm is still screwed up from the car accident. I can't even lift it above my head.
2. In disorder, confusion, or ruin; mishandled or bungled. The deal got all screwed up at the last minute. Sorry, the drawing got a little screwed up there at the end.
3. Morally repugnant or objectionable; awful. Your boss fired you just because you didn't compliment his tie? That's screwed up. Dude, this is screwed up—someone's going to get killed! No way I can be a part of this.
4. Having a confused mental state. A: "I'm all screwed up from this new medication my doctor gave me." B: "Yeah, I'll say. You kept dozing off and muttering something about a bee with a rainbow umbrella."
5. Emotionally or psychologically unstable, as due to trauma, anguish, distress, etc. This usage can be considered derogatory. Believe me, you're not the only soldier to come back from the war feeling totally screwed up. Have you seen a psychiatrist or anything?
6. Of one's face or eyes, contracted into a contorted expression, especially one of disgust, annoyance, displeasure, etc. The girl's face became screwed up as soon as the plate of broccoli was set down in front of her. I stepped out of the cave, my eyes screwed up from the brilliant light of the sun.
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms. © 2022 Farlex, Inc, all rights reserved.
screw someone or something up
Inf. to interfere with someone or something; to mess up someone or something. Try again and don't screw it up this time. You really screwed up my brother by not being on time.
screw someone up
Inf. to confuse someone mentally. Please don't screw me up again! You screwed up my train of thought.
screw something up
to attach something to a higher place by the use of screws. The bracket holding the shelf up has come loose. Will you please screw it up again? Please screw up this loose bracket.
screw up
1. Inf. to mess up. I hope I don't screw up this time. The waiter screwed up again.
2. Inf. a mess; a blunder; utter confusion. (Usually Screw-up.) This is the chef's screw-up, not mine. One more screw-up like that and you're fired.
screwed up
Inf. ruined; messed up. This is a really screwed up schedule. Let's start over again. Your schedule is completely screwed up.
McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs. © 2002 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.
screw up
1. Muster or summon up; see pluck up one's courage.
2. Make a mess of an undertaking; also, make a mistake, as in I really screwed up this report, or She said she was sorry, admitting that she had screwed up. Some authorities believe this usage is a euphemism for fuck up. [Slang; c. 1940]
3. Injure, damage, as in I screwed up my back lifting all those heavy books. [Slang]
4. Make neurotic or anxious, as in Her family really screwed her up, but her therapist has helped her a lot. [Slang; mid-1900s]
The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer. Copyright © 2003, 1997 by The Christine Ammer 1992 Trust. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
screw up
v. Slang
1. To make a mistake; blunder: I screwed up and delivered the package to the wrong address.
2. To injure, damage, or interfere negatively with something: Lifting those boxes really screwed up my back. I gave them detailed instructions, but they still screwed the project up.
3. To make someone neurotic or mentally disturbed: War can really screw up the survivors. Prison really screwed him up. She was screwed up by her parents' divorce.
4. To twist or deform something: The jester screwed up his face and gave a mocking reply. She screwed her eyes up and tried to read the sign.
5. To muster or summon up something: I screwed up my courage and went out on the stage.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of Phrasal Verbs. Copyright © 2005 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
screw someone or something up
tv. to interfere with someone or something; to mess up someone or something. Try again and don’t screw it up this time.
screw up
1. in. to mess up. The waiter screwed up again.
2. n. a mess; a blunder; utter confusion. (see also screwed up.) This is the chef’s screw-up, not mine.
screwed up
mod. ruined; messed up. This is a really screwed up schedule. Let’s start over again.
McGraw-Hill's Dictionary of American Slang and Colloquial Expressions Copyright © 2006 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved.
screw up, to
To botch, to make a mess of; to make an error. This slangy expression, which some think is a euphemism for the much ruder to fuck up, dates from the 1940s, the period of World War II, and may well have originated in the armed forces. Indeed, the army magazine Yank had it on December 23, 1942, “You screw up on the drill field!You goof off at inspection.” For a synonym from about the same period, see louse up.
The Dictionary of Clichés by Christine Ammer Copyright © 2013 by Christine Ammer