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foul-up

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noun \ ˈfau̇(-ə)l-ˌəp \

Definition of foul-up

1 :a state of confusion or an error caused by ineptitude, carelessness, or mismanagement
  • foul-ups in transportation
2 :a mechanical difficulty

See foul-up defined for English-language learners

See foul-up defined for kids

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First Known Use of foul-up

1950

foul-up Synonyms

Synonyms
mix-up
Related Words
bobble, botch, bungle, fumble; blunder, error, fault, flub, goof, inaccuracy, lapse, miscue, misstep, mistake, oversight, slip, slipup, stumble; chaos, confusion, disarrangement, disarray, disorder, disorganization, hash, jumble, mess, muddle, shambles

foul up

verb

Definition of foul up

transitive verb
1 :to make dirty :contaminate
2 :to spoil by making mistakes or using poor judgment :confuse
3 :entangle, block
  • fouled up communications
intransitive verb
:to cause a foul-up :bungle
  • it was his fault. He had fouled up
  • —Pat Frank

See foul up defined for kids

Examples of foul up in a Sentence

  1. tried not to foul up the football play

  2. unfortunately, I fouled up and in my e-mail gave everyone the wrong date for the meeting

First Known Use of foul up

1947

foul up Synonyms

Synonyms
blow, bobble, boggle, bollix (up), boot, bugger (up), bumble, bungle, butcher, dub, flub, fluff, foozle, botch, fumble, goof (up), louse up, mangle, mess (up), muck up, muff, murder, screw up
Related Words
blunder, gum (up), muddle, piffle; blemish, blight, damage, flaw, harm, hurt, impair, injure, mar, mutilate, ruin, spoil, vitiate; destroy, wreck; mishandle, mismanage
Near Antonyms
ameliorate, better, enhance, help, improve, meliorate, rectify, refine, reform, remedy; doctor, fix, patch, recondition, renovate, repair, revamp

FOUL-UP Defined for English Language Learners

foul-up

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noun

Definition of foul-up for English Language Learners

  • : a problem caused by someone making a mistake or being careless

Learn More about foul-up

  1. See words that rhyme with foul-up Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for foul-up Nglish: Translation of foul-up for Spanish speakers

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Examples: foul-up in a Sentence