miscue

¹ American  

[mis-kyoo] / mɪsˈkju /

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.

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verb (used with object)

miscued, miscuing

1. to give the wrong cue to.

miscue ² American  

[mis-kyoo] / mɪsˈkju /

noun

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

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verb (used without object)

miscued, miscuing

1. to make a miscue.

miscue British  

/ 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

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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

Etymology

Origin of miscue¹

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

Origin of miscue²

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

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Example Sentences

See Examples For:

miscue miscued miscuing

Mookie Betts’ bases-clearing double was assisted by a Cardinals defensive miscue.

From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 2, 2026

After lunch, Starc bowled bouncers with as many as six fielders on the boundary and Brook, on 45, was fortunate when a miscue fell between three men.

From BBC ● Jan. 4, 2026

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

Alick Athanaze, who made 21, was the only wicket to fall when he attempted to loft a James Neesham delivery over mid-on only to miscue and be caught by Daryl Mitchell running back.

From Barron's ● Nov. 10, 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

Firstly, Maradona opened the scoring in the second half with his notorious 'hand of God' goal by punching a miscued back pass with his hand past Peter Shilton and into the net.

From BBC ● Jul. 5, 2026

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

Looking for his first boundary from his fourth ball, he miscued a length ball in the off-stump channel to mid-off.

From BBC ● Feb. 19, 2026

He was caught off a Cameron Green no-ball on 22, then edged and miscued the same bowler.

From BBC ● Jan. 5, 2026

Then one afternoon, while engaging in the bravado of chasing cars and attempting to bite their hubcaps, Rip miscued and ran headlong under the wheels.

From The Land of Look Behind by Paul Cameron Brown

Brook, on 111, lost his bat in miscuing Akash Deep to mid-off, Jacob Bethell was bowled attempting a wild hack and a poking Root was caught behind for 105.

From BBC ● Aug. 3, 2025

Blundell completed his hundred off the same bowler before miscuing to mid-off.

From BBC ● Jun. 11, 2022

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

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

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Related Words

• blooper
• mistake

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