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screw up

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screw someone or something up

Inf. to interfere with someone or something; to mess up someone or something. Try again and don't screw it up this time. You really screwed up my brother by not being on time.

See also: screw, up

screw someone up

Inf. to confuse someone mentally. Please don't screw me up again! You screwed up my train of thought.

See also: screw, up

screw something up

to attach something to a higher place by the use of screws. The bracket holding the shelf up has come loose. Will you please screw it up again? Please screw up this loose bracket.

See also: screw, up

screw up

 

1. Inf. to mess up. I hope I don't screw up this time. The waiter screwed up again.

2. Inf. a mess; a blunder; utter confusion. (Usually Screw-up.) This is the chef's screw-up, not mine. One more screw-up like that and you're fired.

See also: screw, up

screw up somebody

also screw somebody up

to confuse or hurt someone She really screwed him up when she left him. Their parents' divorce really screwed up the kids.

See also: screw, up

screw up (something)

also screw something up

to spoil or damage something You couldn't screw up much worse than I did. Somehow the lawyer screwed up my appointment again. This is detailed work, and people screw it up once in a while.

See also: screw, up

screw up

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]

See also: screw, up

screw up

v. Slang

1. To make a mistake; blunder: I screwed up and delivered the package to the wrong address.

2. To injure, damage, or interfere negatively with something: Lifting those boxes really screwed up my back. I gave them detailed instructions, but they still screwed the project up.

3. To make someone neurotic or mentally disturbed: War can really screw up the survivors. Prison really screwed him up. She was screwed up by her parents' divorce.

4. To twist or deform something: The jester screwed up his face and gave a mocking reply. She screwed her eyes up and tried to read the sign.

5. To muster or summon up something: I screwed up my courage and went out on the stage.

See also: screw, up

screw up

1. in. to mess up. The waiter screwed up again.

2. n. a mess; a blunder; utter confusion. (see also screwed up.) This is the chef’s screw-up, not mine.

See also: screw, up