goof

[ goof ]

verb (used without object)

1. to blunder; make an error, misjudgment, etc.
2. to waste or kill time; evade work or responsibility (often followed by off or around ):

   Exam week is not a time to goof off. We goofed around till train time.

verb (used with object)

1. to spoil or make a mess of (something); botch; bungle (often followed by up ):

   You really goofed up the job.

noun

1. a foolish or stupid person.
2. a mistake or blunder, especially one due to carelessness.
3. a source of fun or cause for amusement:

   We short-sheeted his bunk just for a goof.

verb phrase

1. Slang. to tease, ridicule, or mock; make fun of.

goof

/ ɡuːf /

noun

1. a foolish error or mistake
2. a stupid person

verb

1. to bungle (something); botch
2. intr; often foll by about or around to fool (around); mess (about)
3. tr to dope with drugs
4. introften foll byoff to waste time; idle

Word History and Origins

Origin of goof¹

1915–20; apparently variant of obsolete goff dolt < Middle French goffe awkward, stupid

Word History and Origins

Origin of goof¹

C20: probably from (dialect) goff simpleton, from Old French goffe clumsy, from Italian goffo, of obscure origin

Example Sentences

A UConn basketball fan drank hot sauce on Twitter as a goof.

From Washington Post

Big payday at stake—players expected to leave goof butts home.

From The Daily Beast

He plays a goof-off New York City cop in the show, which will air before New Girl on Tuesday nights.

From The Daily Beast

“She sort of plays the goof a little bit and he plays off her,” says Clemente.

From The Daily Beast

Preceding Die Antwoord, Lakers star Ron Artest joined Kimmel, and demonstrated how to do a hoax, or an act, or a goof, badly.

From The Daily Beast

And on Tuesday, admissions director Mae Brown apologized for the goof, calling it an “administrative error.”

From The Daily Beast

I just want to be sure somebody didn't goof and ring a special in here.

From Project Gutenberg

That picture, rising before my eyes, didn't give me much confidence in the unfortunate goof's ability to woo and win, I must say.

From Project Gutenberg

We know we're gonna get 'em eventually, because we know they're gonna goof up eventually, and then we'll have 'em.

From Project Gutenberg

Or was p. 39 this all goof ball sentiment in his own mind, to make himself feel real modest?

From Project Gutenberg

It was easier to assume that the goof-ups were being done deliberately.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• err
• flub
• screw up