goof-up

or goof·up

[ goof-uhp ]
/ ˈgufˌʌp /
SEE SYNONYMS FOR goof-up ON THESAURUS.COM

noun Slang.

a person who habitually makes mistakes, spoils things, gets into trouble, etc., especially through carelessness or irresponsibility.
a mistake, blunder, malfunction, or the like.

Origin of goof-up

First recorded in 1940–45; noun use of verb phrase goof up

Words nearby goof-up

gooey, goof, goof on, goof up, goof-off, goof-up, goofball, goofus, goofy, goofy-footer, goog

Definition for goof-up (2 of 2)

Origin of goof

1915–20; apparently variant of obsolete goff dolt < Middle French goffe awkward, stupid

Words related to goof-up

offense, failing, miscue, negligence, violation, fault, indiscretion, omission, blunder, failure, transgression, error, breach, crime, oversight, sin, misunderstanding, miscalculation, mix-up, foul-up

British Dictionary definitions for goof-up

goof
/ (ɡuːf) informal /

noun

a foolish error or mistake
a stupid person

verb

to bungle (something); botch
(intr; often foll by about or around) to fool (around); mess (about)
(tr) to dope with drugs
(intr often foll by off) US and Canadian to waste time; idle

Word Origin for goof

C20: probably from (dialect) goff simpleton, from Old French goffe clumsy, from Italian goffo, of obscure origin