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

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

miscue miscued miscuing

Stokes enticed O'Rourke to miscue and then came a moment of controversy.

From BBC ● Jun. 26, 2026

That unfortunate miscue opened the door for the Royals to win the state title.

From Los Angeles Times ● May 17, 2026

A successful meeting, and international diplomacy, can hinge on the slightest missed protocol, an unexpected miscue or even a bit of saliva left on a fork.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Apr. 27, 2026

Jamie Overton's hitting meant 20 were needed off the final over, but his miscue to cover left England 252 all out.

From BBC ● Jan. 22, 2026

The slightest miscue by any one of them would mean catching a crab, and catastrophe.

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

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

Smith had 60 when he miscued Mitchell Starc.

From BBC ● Dec. 20, 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

And Copley—Simon judged others by himself—would be sure to make the most of his grievance with her over a parental stratagem that had miscued!

From The Monk of Hambleton by Livingston, Armstrong

Captain Buttler threatened a successful rebuild before miscuing on 52, leaving Jacob Bethell to bat with the lower order.

From BBC ● Feb. 6, 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 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

Vilas goes, holing out to Moeen on the backward square leg boundary after miscuing a shorter ball.

From The Guardian ● Jan. 14, 2016

Related Words

• blooper
• mistake