fuck up

• fuck-up
• (noun) fuckup

• (noun) IPA^(key): /ˈfʌkˌʌp/
• (verb) IPA^(key): /ˌfʌkˈʌp/

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• Rhymes: (verb) -ʌp

fuck up (third-person singular simple present fucks up, present participle fucking up, simple past and past participle fucked up)

1. (intransitive, slang, vulgar) To make a mistake, to go wrong.

   Synonyms: screw up, mess up; see also Thesaurus:make a mistake

   You really fucked up this time.

   • 2023, Thomas Chatterton Williams, “The People Who Don’t Read Books”, in The Atlantic‎:

     When I was in my 20s and writing my first book—I know, I really fucked up there[.]

2. (transitive, vulgar) To botch or make a mess of.

   I fucked up question 3 of the exam.

   • 2017 August 27, Brandon Nowalk, “Game Of Thrones slows down for the longest, and best, episode of the season (newbies)”, in The Onion AV Club‎:

     Tyrion is made to be a strategic fool. I haven’t been as hard on this aspect of the season as others, because I buy that Tyrion might overestimate himself in military matters. But face-to-face negotiation with power players in the capital? Now that really is his bread and butter, and after a season of fucking things up in Dragonstone, he once again completely misreads the situation in King’s Landing.

3. (transitive, vulgar) To injure or damage badly.

   Synonym: mar

   I fucked up my knee while running the marathon.

   • 1971, Philip Larkin, This Be The Verse:

     They fuck you up, your mum and dad. / They may not mean to, but they do. / They fill you with the faults they had / And add some extra, just for you.

   • 1991, “Sax and Violins”, in Once in a Lifetime – The Best of Talking Heads, performed by Talking Heads:

     Mom and Pop, they will fuck you up / For sure / Love so deep, kills you in your sleep / It's true

   • 1993, Wu-Tang Clan (music), “Shame on a Nigga”, in Enter the Wu-Tang (36 Chambers):

     Shame on a nigga who try to run game on a nigga / Wu buck wild with the trigger! / Shame on a nigga who try to run game on a nigga / I'll fuck your ass up!

   • 2006, John R. Butler (music), “The Hand of the Almighty”, in Surprise!:

     He'll fuck you up, yes, God will fuck you up / If you dare to disobey His stern command. / He'll fuck you up, don't you know He'll fuck you up? / So you better do some prayin' while you can.

   • 2010, Action 52 (NES) - Angry Video Game Nerd (AVGN)‎, 16:51 from the start:

     What are these, hookers? I guess this guy doesn't understand the concept of a hooker. You're supposed to fuck her, not fuck her up.

4. (vulgar) To cause someone to make a big mistake.
5. (used only in imperative, vulgar) Ellipsis of shut the fuck up.

   Fuck up, mate! I don't want to listen to you!

• FUBAR

fuck up (plural fuck ups)

1. Alternative spelling of fuckup