Screw Up (Verb)
Meaning 1
Screw or turn higher.
Classification
Verbs of touching, hitting, tying, digging.
Examples
- Turn the knob clockwise to screw up the lid tightly so it doesn't leak.
- She carefully had to screw up her courage to tell her parents the truth.
- Be sure to screw up the light bulb securely or it might fall.
- It's essential to screw up the jar tightly after use, or it may explode.
- You need to screw up the loose screw firmly before assembling the bookshelf.
Meaning 2
Make a mess of, destroy or ruin; "I botched the dinner and we had to eat out"; "the pianist screwed up the difficult passage in the second movement".
Classification
Verbs of political and social activities and events.
Examples
- I tried to fix the leak, but I think I screwed up the pipe and now it's worse.
- The politician's speech about the economy screwed up the delicate negotiations.
- The employees screwed up the big presentation, which cost them their promotion.
- The production team screwed up the entire production schedule of the new TV series.
- The hikers got lost because one of them screwed up the navigation.
Synonyms
- Louse Up
- Fumble
- Ball Up
- Bollix Up
- Bodge
- Spoil
- Botch Up
- Bollocks
- Muck Up
- Mess Up
- Muff
- Blow
- Bobble
- Mishandle
- Bollocks Up
- Bungle
- Botch
- Flub
- Fuck Up
- Fluff
- Bollix
- Bumble
- Foul Up
Hypernyms
Related Words
Meaning 3
Make more intense; "Emotions were screwed up".
Classification
Verbs of size, temperature change, intensifying, etc..
Examples
- The press conference screwed up the situation with their aggressive questioning.
- Her past mistakes screwed up the entire relationship.
- The tragic accident screwed up his mental state for years.
- The news of the layoff screwed up everyone's mood in the office.
- The negative feedback screwed up her already fragile confidence.
Synonyms
Hypernyms
Meaning 4
Twist into a strained configuration; "screw up one's face".
Classification
Verbs of grooming, dressing and bodily care.
Examples
- She screwed up her face in distaste at the strong smell of garlic.
- He screwed up his eyes, trying to see through the thick fog.
- The athlete screwed up his face in effort as he lifted the heavy weights.
- She screwed up her nose in disgust at the thought of eating broccoli.
- He screwed up his face, struggling to hold back tears after the sad news.