bollix

or bol·ix, bol·lox

[ bol-iks ]

verb (used with object)

, Informal.

1. to do (something) badly; bungle (often followed by up ):

   His interference bollixed up the whole deal.

noun

1. a confused bungle.

Word History and Origins

Origin of bollix¹

First recorded in 1930–35; variant of ballocks

Example Sentences

The transcript fails to illustrate how often Welker, bollixed by Trump, ended up stepping on her own questions.

From Los Angeles Times

The tendency to inject melodrama and sensationalism, to shy away from tough-mindedness and harshness, and to bollix up story lines, is a familiar one in open-ended adaptations of self-contained, literary novels; it almost seems unavoidable.

From New York Times

“You don’t bollix up the entire Senate for partisan purposes,” he said.

From Washington Post

But suddenly, this year, liberal dreams that have been bollixed up in Olympia forever came true.

From Seattle Times

The world just seemed too bollixed up for superficial entertainment.

From Los Angeles Times