snafu
Complete operational disaster
A snafu is a mistake, mix-up, or state of confusion—something going wrong due to poor planning or communication: There was a snafu with the reservations and we lost our table.
The word originated as military slang during World War II.
It also works as a verb meaning to bungle: They snafued the whole operation. (All-caps SNAFU is the original acronym form.)
Foolish, costly mistake
- bungleFail through clumsiness
- fiascoHumiliating public failure
- botchSpoil through incompetence
- screwupPerson prone to errors
flub · gaffe · goof · blooper · slipup · foul-up · miscue · misstep
Disorderly, troublesome condition
- disasterSudden ruinous event
- debacleSudden, complete failure
- catastropheDevastating, large-scale misfortune
- meltdownCatastrophic loss of control
shambles · train wreck · cluster · quagmire · pandemonium · havoc · mayhem · bedlam
Bureaucratic obstacles to action
- paperworkAdministrative written tasks
- miscommunicationFailed exchange of meaning
- mix-upConfusion from error
- foul-upA mistake causing disorder
oversight · mismanagement · delay · holdup · runaround · bottleneck · logjam · gridlock
blunder
Foolish, costly mistake
screwup · flub · gaffe · goof · blooper · slipup · foul-up · miscue · misstep · clanger
mess
Disorderly, troublesome condition
- disasterSudden ruinous event
- debacleSudden, complete failure
- catastropheDevastating, large-scale misfortune
meltdown · shambles · train wreck · cluster · quagmire · pandemonium · havoc · mayhem · bedlam · muddle
red tape
Bureaucratic obstacles to action
- paperworkAdministrative written tasks
- miscommunicationFailed exchange of meaning
- mix-upConfusion from error
foul-up · oversight · mismanagement · delay · holdup · runaround · bottleneck · logjam · gridlock · inefficiency
glitch
Minor system fault
crash · hiccup · defect · fault · error · snag · hitch · kink · gremlin · outage
snafuorder
Methodical arrangement or request
organization · organized · coordination · harmony · precision
snafusuccess
Favorable outcome attained
triumph · victory · achievement · win · solution
snafusmooth sailing
Untroubled progress forward
clockwork · well-oiled machine · like a charm · without a hitch · on track