mess up
Fail to execute
To mess up is to make a mistake or do something badly: I really messed up that presentation.
It also means to damage or disorder something: Don't mess up your hair.
You can mess someone up physically (injure them) or emotionally (cause psychological harm): That breakup really messed her up.
A mess-up is a blunder or failure.
Handle with clumsy fingers
misstep · gaffe · snafu · slip · stumble · err · miscalculate · misjudge
Spoil the appearance
- blemishVisible flaw or mark
- stainLasting surface discoloration
- soilGround matter for planting
- dirtyNot clean
smear · smudge · scratch · dent · scuff · deface · tarnish · ruin
Lack of order
- jumbleConfused disorderly collection
- scatterDistribute in random directions
- tangleTwisted mass of strands
- dishevelMake untidy, disordered
rumple · tousle · muddle · shuffle · disarrange · clutter · litter · strew
fumble
Handle with clumsy fingers
goof · misstep · gaffe · snafu · slip · stumble · err · miscalculate · misjudge · mishandle
mar
Spoil the appearance
dirty · smear · smudge · scratch · dent · scuff · deface · tarnish · ruin · spoil
disarray
Lack of order
- jumbleConfused disorderly collection
- scatterDistribute in random directions
- tangleTwisted mass of strands
dishevel · rumple · tousle · muddle · shuffle · disarrange · clutter · litter · strew · misplace
derail
Force off course
- sabotageDeliberate disruption of operations
- interfereObstruct or meddle uninvited
- hamperObstruct or clothes basket
hinder · impede · obstruct · disturb · unsettle · upset · complicate · throw off · wreck · ruin
flop
Complete commercial failure
- flounderStruggle awkwardly, or seafood
- misfireFailure to discharge
- backfireYield unintended consequences
bomb · tank · crash · collapse · fall apart · miscarry · come undone · go wrong · blow it · choke
- mishapsmishap, accident, mistake, blunder, error
- phrasal verbslook at, put down, turn on, turn off, wait for
- oopsoops, whoops, whoopsie, oopsie, woopsie
- disruptdisrupt, disturb, upset, disorder, disorganize
- mistakesmistake, mistakes, slip, error, errors
- destruction verbsdestroy, demolish, wreck, ruin, smash