mess-up

[mes-uhp]

noun

1. a blunder; state of confusion; mix-up.

Word History and Origins

Origin of mess up¹

First recorded in 1900–05; noun use of verb phrase mess up

Idioms and Phrases

Create disorder in; muddle or ruin. For example, On rainy days the children really mess up the house , or He had a way of messing up his own business . [c. 1900]

Make a mistake, especially from nervousness or confusion, as in He messed up and took the wrong dossier to the meeting , or Jill swore she would never mess up again . [ Colloquial ; early 1900s]

Beat up, manhandle, as in Joe got messed up in a barroom brawl . [ Slang ; early 1900s]