miscue

¹

[ mis-kyoo ]

noun

1. Sports. a failure to execute a play, stroke, or maneuver properly; an error.
2. Informal. a mistake.
3. Informal. to make a mistake.
4. Theater. to fail to answer one's cue or to answer another's cue.

verb (used with object)

, mis·cued, mis·cu·ing.

1. to give the wrong cue to.

miscue

²

[ mis-kyoo ]

noun

1. a stroke in which the cue fails to make solid contact with the cue ball.

verb (used without object)

, mis·cued, mis·cu·ing.

1. to make a miscue.

miscue

/ ˌmɪsˈkjuː /

noun

1. billiards a faulty stroke in which the cue tip slips off the cue ball or misses it altogether
2. informal.
   a blunder or mistake

verb

1. intr billiards to make a miscue
2. intr theatre to fail to answer one's own cue or answer the cue of another
3. radio to start (a record or tape) at the wrong point
4. informal.
   intr to blunder

Word History and Origins

Origin of miscue¹

First recorded in 1880–85; mis- ¹ + cue ¹

Origin of miscue²

First recorded in 1870–75; mis- ¹ + cue ²

Example Sentences

Also drawing the ire of fans has been a proliferation of late-game mismanagement and miscues.

From Washington Post

Only one played in 2010, and that was Johnson, who tied for fifth after a singular miscue, a memorable two-shot penalty when he ground his club into a bunker after thinking it a waste area rather than a bunker.

From Washington Post

Knizner sped by first and dug an extra 90 feet on the miscue.

From Washington Post

It might be even more impressive that, in both cases, he has immediately followed those miscues with birdies.

From Washington Post

By attempting a return, teams risk more miscues near their own end zone for little upside.

From FiveThirtyEight

With each miscue the production has been relaunched, each time in the hope that it can dispel the previous bad reviews.

From The Daily Beast

“C.,” who was painfully conscious that he might have made a miscue in the matter of the quotation, answered sharply.

From Project Gutenberg

Who originated this scheme of revising the Bible we do not know, but whoever it was made a miscue.

From Project Gutenberg

It hurts her more than anything to make a miscue on the charitable side.

From Project Gutenberg

You're no inventor, but you're always pretty handy in telling me where I make a miscue in my machines.

From Project Gutenberg

This effort is ruined by an appalling miscue which affects the new cloth.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• blooper
• mistake