goof-up

or goof·up

[ goof-uhp ]

noun

, Slang.

1. a person who habitually makes mistakes, spoils things, gets into trouble, etc., especially through carelessness or irresponsibility.
2. a mistake, blunder, malfunction, or the like.

Word History and Origins

Origin of goof-up¹

First recorded in 1940–45; noun use of verb phrase goof up

Idioms and Phrases

Blunder, make a mistake, spoil. For example, I really goofed up and got all the dates wrong . This expression emerged in the military during World War II, along with the synonymous goof off . Quite often up is omitted, as in Sorry, I goofed . [ Slang ; c. 1940]

Example Sentences

The NFL vehemently disagreed with Steratore’s contention and a day later Steratore owned up to his goof-up.

From Washington Times

One reason the Raiders are glad they didn’t settle for the sure thing of a tie and eliminate any chance, no matter how small, of a goof-up — a bad snap, a block, a return — was that Las Vegas would have earned the seventh seed had the thrilling Week 18 finale ended in an improbable tie.

From Seattle Times

These numbers point to either a major census data goof-up or one of the most remarkable unreported sociological phenomenon of our times.

From BBC

My goof-up starts a chain reaction.

From Literature

But it appears to have been decades since the last goof-up, so notching two in the same year was striking.

From Washington Times

Related Words

• bobble
• bumble
• bungle
• err
• flub
• fumble
• miscalculate
• mishandle
• misjudge
• mismanage
• muff
• screw up