screw up

British  

verb

1. to twist out of shape or distort

2. to summon up or call upon

   to screw up one's courage

3. informal (also intr) to mishandle or make a mess (of)

4. informal (often passive) to cause to become very anxious, confused, or nervous

   he is really screwed up about his exams

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noun

1. slang something mishandled or done badly

screw up Idioms  

1. Muster or summon up; see pluck up one's courage .

2. Make a mess of an undertaking; also, make a mistake, as in I really screwed up this report , or She said she was sorry, admitting that she had screwed up . Some authorities believe this usage is a euphemism for fuck up . [ Slang ; c. 1940]

3. Injure, damage, as in I screwed up my back lifting all those heavy books . [ Slang ]

4. Make neurotic or anxious, as in Her family really screwed her up, but her therapist has helped her a lot . [ Slang ; mid-1900s]

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Example Sentences

Young men continue to screw up on the “House of the Dragon” premiere.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 25, 2026

Not only does it screw up seasonal adjustments, but many laid-off workers tend to wait until after the holiday to apply for benefits.

From MarketWatch • Jun. 11, 2026

As is well-known, AI can screw up even the simplest facts, or just hallucinate and invent details, so it pays to check everything.

From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 24, 2026

“I catch crocodiles, and a crocodile has never managed to screw up my ribs like that,” he said.

From Los Angeles Times • Nov. 26, 2025

And then James might screw up his face and make his eyes bulge, like Rick, the white college boy who ran the summer program.

From "The Contender" by Robert Lipsyte

Related Words

• botch
• bungle
• confuse
• flub
• muddle
• spoil