miscue
1 Americannoun
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Sports. a failure to execute a play, stroke, or maneuver properly; an error.
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Informal. a mistake.
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Informal. to make a mistake.
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Theater. to fail to answer one's cue or to answer another's cue.
verb (used with object)
noun
verb (used without object)
noun
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billiards a faulty stroke in which the cue tip slips off the cue ball or misses it altogether
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informal a blunder or mistake
verb
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(intr) billiards to make a miscue
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(intr) theatre to fail to answer one's own cue or answer the cue of another
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radio to start (a record or tape) at the wrong point
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informal (intr) to blunder
Etymology
Origin of miscue1
First recorded in 1880–85; mis- 1 + cue 1
Origin of miscue2
Vocabulary lists containing miscue
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.
See Examples For:
While Betts’ miscue broke up a perfect game, Yamamoto praised his teammates after the game and said via a translator on Dodgers SportsNet that they made a few key plays that “saved me.”
From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 13, 2026
The offense, however, could not convert the miscue into points.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jan. 10, 2026
While Stokes was tight, Carse leaked 26 runs from three overs and gave way to Tongue, who enticed Head into a miscue to Crawley at deep square leg.
From BBC ● Dec. 20, 2025
If past is prologue, he will overreach in response to this week’s peace proffer, rejecting what many in his entourage would view as an attractive exit from a strategic miscue.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Nov. 21, 2025
At the same time, the exertion required to maintain a high rate makes the physical pain all the more devastating and therefore the likelihood of a miscue greater.
From "The Boys in the Boat: Nine Americans and Their Epic Quest for Gold at the 1936 Berlin Olympics" by Daniel James Brown
Shimron Hetmyer was dropped at mid-on by Corbin Bosch off the next delivery, but lasted only two more when he miscued to midwicket where Maharaj snapped up the catch.
From Barron's ● Feb. 26, 2026
One of his few false shots came when Brydon Carse lifted a bouncer towards his grille and Head miscued narrowly over fine leg.
From BBC ● Dec. 19, 2025
Starc eventually miscued Carse to mid-off, but England's torture continued with seven overs of Boland and Brendan Doggett together.
From BBC ● Dec. 6, 2025
By the time he miscued Brydon Carse to mid-off, Head had taken 30 off the next 17 balls he faced.
From BBC ● Dec. 5, 2025
"How much of what you've just been saying to him is right, and how much is just bluff to cover a place where you miscued?" asked he.
From Ashton-Kirk, Criminologist by John T. McIntyre
The opener was caught after miscuing a Liam Livingstone full toss in the 30th over but by that stage only a further 85 runs were needed.
From BBC ● Feb. 9, 2025
Declan Rice, possibly West Ham’s best player this season, was at fault for the equalizer after miscuing his attempted headed clearance from a cross into the center of the area.
From Seattle Times ● Feb. 19, 2022
Livingston failed to muster a shot on target, with Ayo Obileye horribly miscuing a free header in the first half.
From BBC ● Jul. 31, 2021
Vilas goes, holing out to Moeen on the backward square leg boundary after miscuing a shorter ball.
From The Guardian ● Jan. 14, 2016
Vilas c Moeen b Broad 26, South Africa 225-7 Vilas goes, holing out to Moeen on the backward square leg boundary after miscuing a shorter ball.
From The Guardian ● Jan. 14, 2016
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.
