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:
Stokes enticed O'Rourke to miscue and then came a moment of controversy.
From BBC ● Jun. 26, 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
Of their mental resolve after a self-inflicted miscue.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 2, 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
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 also top-edged Green over the slips when he had 30 and, on 34, miscued a pull that just evaded mid-on.
From BBC ● Jan. 4, 2026
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
I jiggled my hook angrily and when the operator answered I told her that she'd miscued.
From Highways in Hiding by George Oliver Smith
Captain Buttler threatened a successful rebuild before miscuing on 52, leaving Jacob Bethell to bat with the lower order.
From BBC ● Feb. 6, 2025
Stokes slogged 27 before miscuing Neil Wagner to mid-off, a sweeping Broad was lbw to Bracewell's off-spin for 14 and Ollie Robinson was caught at cover for 18 to give Henry his fourth wicket.
From BBC ● Feb. 24, 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
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.
