snafu

[ sna-foo, snaf-oo ]

noun

1. a badly confused or ridiculously muddled situation:

   A ballot snafu in the election led to a recount.

   Synonyms: foul-up, mess, confusion, disorder, bedlam, snarl, disarray

   Antonyms: order, organization, calm

2. an error or miscalculation, especially one leading to a confused or muddled situation:

   After some snafu deleted all my data files, I've finally managed to rebuild everything—I think!

adjective

1. Also sna·fued. in disorder; out of control; chaotic:

   What you’re proposing is a snafu scheme that simply won't work.

verb (used with object)

, sna·fued, sna·fu·ing.

1. to throw into disorder; muddle:

   Losing his passport snafued the whole vacation.

   Synonyms: bungle, spoil, mess up

snafu

/ snæˈfuː /

noun

1. confusion or chaos regarded as the normal state

adjective

1. postpositive confused or muddled up, as usual

verb

1. tr to throw into chaos

Word History and Origins

Origin of snafu¹

First recorded in 1940–45; s(ituation) n(ormal): a(ll) f(ucked) u(p); sometimes euphemistically construed as f(ouled) u(p)

Word History and Origins

Origin of snafu¹

C20: from s ( ituation ) n ( ormal ): a ( ll ) f ( ucked or ouled ) u ( p )

Related Words

• blunder
• foul-up
• miscalculation
• misunderstanding
• mix-up
• slipup