screw up
(Informal)
[verb]
Synonyms:
- bungle, botch, make a hash of (informal), make a mess of (slang), mess up, mishandle, spoil
- distort, contort, pucker, wrinkle

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Related Words: confuse, muddle, snafu, spoil

[TahlilGaran] English Synonym Dictionary ▲

screw up phrasal verb (see also screw)

1. informal to make a bad mistake or do something very stupid Synonym : mess up:
You’d better not screw up this time.

2. screw something ↔ up informal to spoil something by doing something stupid Synonym : mess something up:
She realized that she had screwed up her life.

3. screw up your eyes/face to move the muscles in your face in a way that makes your eyes seem narrow:
He screwed up his eyes against the bright light.
Her face was screwed up with pain.

4. screw somebody ↔ up informal to make someone feel very unhappy, confused, or upset so that they have emotional problems for a long time Synonym : mess somebody up:
It really screwed her up when her mother died. ⇒ screwed up

5. screw up the/enough courage to do something (also screw up your courage to do something) to be brave enough to do something you are very nervous about:
I finally screwed up enough courage to talk to her.

[TahlilGaran] Dictionary of Contemporary English ▲

screw up
screw up (something)
to spoil or damage something.
You couldn't screw up much worse than I did.

Somehow the lawyer screwed up my appointment again.

This is detailed work, and people screw it up once in a while.

screw up (someone)
to confuse or hurt someone.
She really screwed him up when she left him.

Their parents' divorce really screwed up the kids.

[TahlilGaran] English Idioms Dictionary ▲

screw up something
screw up (something)
to spoil or damage something.
You couldn't screw up much worse than I did.

Somehow the lawyer screwed up my appointment again.

This is detailed work, and people screw it up once in a while.

screw up (someone)
to confuse or hurt someone.
She really screwed him up when she left him.

Their parents' divorce really screwed up the kids.

[TahlilGaran] English Idioms Dictionary ▲

screw up
to make a mess of something, to cause trouble for someone or something
My travel agent screwed up my travel schedule and I had to stay at the airport overnight.

[TahlilGaran] English Idioms Dictionary ▲

screw up
v. phr., slang, semi-vulgar, best avoided
1. To make a mess of, to make an error which causes confusion.
The treasurer screwed up the accounts of the Society so badly that he had to be fired.
2. To cause someone to be neurotic or maladjusted.
Her divorce screwed her up so badly that she had to go to a shrink.

[TahlilGaran] English Idioms Dictionary ▲

screw up
n. A mistake; an error; a confusing mess.
"What a screw-up!" the manager cried, when he realized that the bills were sent to the wrong customers.

[TahlilGaran] English Idioms Dictionary ▲

screw up someone
screw up (someone)
to confuse or hurt someone.
She really screwed him up when she left him.

Their parents' divorce really screwed up the kids.

[TahlilGaran] English Idioms Dictionary ▲