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Synonyms

goof-up

American  
[goof-uhp] / ˈgufˌʌp /
Or goofup

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.

goof up Idioms  

  1. 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]

Etymology

Origin of goof-up

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

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

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

From Washington Times • Oct. 31, 2023

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

From Washington Times • Dec. 27, 2017

Yet perhaps there's more to a verbal goof-up than a mere case of the stupids.

From Salon • Jun. 21, 2011

Says one Justice Department official: "This is the biggest goof-up we've ever had."

From Time Magazine Archive

Described by one department official as "the biggest goof-up we've ever had," this double system of false signatures gave defense attorneys a chance to challenge the Government successfully in lower courts.

From Time Magazine Archive

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.