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:
Following Ortiz’s miscue, Tampa Bay collected four consecutive singles, ending with pinch hitter Ben Williamson’s walk-off chopper to score Nick Fortes from third.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 28, 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
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
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
Smith had 60 when he miscued Mitchell Starc.
From BBC ● Dec. 20, 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
"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
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
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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