verb (tr, adverb)
to cover, dab, or stiffen with gum
informal to make a mess of; bungle (often in the phrase gum up the works )
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Words nearby gum up gumshoe ,
gumsucker ,
gum thus ,
gum tragacanth ,
gum tree ,
gum up ,
gumweed ,
gumwood ,
gun ,
guna ,
gunboat
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
© William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
Words related to gum up bungle ,
ball up ,
blow ,
blunder ,
bobble ,
boggle ,
bollix ,
boot ,
bumble ,
butcher ,
distort ,
err ,
fall down ,
flounder ,
flub ,
foul up ,
fumble ,
goof up ,
louse up ,
mar
How to use gum up in a sentence “I think for trans men who are dating every time they hook up they have another coming out,” Sandler said.
In that photo, Merabet has a big smile that spreads across his whole face and lights up his eyes.
We won't find out this season, though it comes up occasionally.
Kickstarter is one start-up platform that seems to have realized the danger.
The most recent issue contains detailed instructions for building car bombs, and the magazine frequently draws up hit-lists.
What need to look to right or left when you are swallowing up free mile after mile of dizzying road?
Most of the men leaped up, caught hold of spears or knives, and rushed out.
Some weeks after, the creditor chanced to be in Boston, and in walking up Tremont street, encountered his enterprising friend.
In less than ten minutes, the bivouac was broken up, and our little army on the march.
The bride elect rushes up to him, and so they both step down to the foot-lights.
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Other Idioms and Phrases with gum up
Ruin or bungle something, as in The front office has gummed up the sales campaign thoroughly . This idiom is also put as gum up the works , as in John's changes in procedures have gummed up the works in the shipping department . [Slang ; c. 1900]
The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary
Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.