muck-up

[ muhk-uhp ]

noun

, Informal.

1. a bungled or disordered situation; foul-up.

muck up

verb

1. tr to ruin or spoil; make a mess of
2. intr to misbehave

Word History and Origins

Origin of muck-up¹

First recorded in 1925–30; noun use of verb phrase muck up

Idioms and Phrases

Bungle, damage, make a mess of, as in Don't let him write the review; he's sure to muck it up . This idiom alludes to the verb muck in the sense of “spread manure on.” [Early 1900s] For a synonym, see foul up .

Example Sentences

The cops, of course, always attend Hempfest, not to muck up the vibe but to make sure no big, important laws are being flouted.

From The Daily Beast

Even your dirty paper, Waldemar, wouldn't rake that kind of muck up after ten years.

From Project Gutenberg

If we leave go that muck up yon, it'll be like me dressin' for mass an' no rackin' down me hair, so it would.

From Project Gutenberg

And well might he say that, for she was covered with muck up to her waist.

From Project Gutenberg

He was covered with black muck up to his armpits, and some of the muck was on his hands and face.

From Project Gutenberg

It was good enough for you to want me to muck up out of the window, wasn't it?

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• agitate
• alarm
• bewilder
• bother
• confound
• daunt
• disconcert
• discourage
• dishearten
• disillusion
• dispirit
• disquiet
• disturb
• dumbfound
• embarrass
• faze
• flummox
• fluster
• frighten
• horrify