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.

---

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.

---

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

---

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

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

From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 2, 2026

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

From Los Angeles Times ● May 17, 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

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

Root miscued to be caught for 69, leading England to promote Will Jacks to number five for a blistering unbroken stand of 185 from only 79 balls with Brook.

From BBC ● Oct. 22, 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

Ben Duckett miscued Starc to mid-on and Zak Crawley edged the same bowler to second slip, either side of Jacob Bethell's Ashes debut yielding one run before he nicked Neser.

From BBC ● Dec. 26, 2025

Instead, Tryon was run out with 35 required and there were more uncomfortable moments to come as De Klerk twice miscued in the penultimate over with match in the balance.

From BBC ● Oct. 13, 2025

But I miscued, and he got going again.

From Here and Hereafter by Barry Pain

Marsh was the first to go, miscuing Marco Jansen to mid-off, before Warner flashed Lungi Ngidi, who bowled with excellent control up front, to point.

From BBC ● Oct. 12, 2023

Diogo Dalot missed a glaring chance from six yards out, miscuing the excellent Fernandes' cross, while Lisandro Martinez headed against the crossbar in a second half that was bossed by the home side.

From BBC ● Feb. 19, 2023

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 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

Random Word

Spin the wheel and learn a new word!

---

Related Words

• blooper
• mistake

---