bollix up
Học thuậtThân thiện
Definition
Verb: * To do something very badly; to make a complete mess or failure of something. It implies causing confusion, disorder, or ruin through incompetence or mistake.
Usage
This is an informal, slightly vulgar verb. It is used to describe an action that has been performed incompetently, resulting in a failed or chaotic outcome. It is transitive and requires an object (the thing that is messed up).
Examples
- "I completely bollixed up the presentation by forgetting my notes and confusing the data."
- "Don't let him handle the negotiations; he'll just bollix the whole deal up."
- "The new software update bollixed up the printing system for everyone in the office."
Advanced Usage
- The verb is often used in the passive voice to describe a state of confusion or malfunction.
- "All our travel plans got bollixed up because of the airline strike."
- It can be used reflexively.
- "He bollixed himself up trying to fix the sink and caused a flood."
Variants and Related Words
- Bollix (verb/noun): Can be used as a simpler verb form ("to bollix something") or as a noun meaning "a state of confusion" ("The instructions are a complete bollix").
- Bollocks (noun/vulgar slang): Primarily a vulgar British slang term for testicles, also used to mean "nonsense." While related etymologically, "bollocks" is stronger and more offensive than "bollix up."
Synonyms
- Botch: To carry out a task badly or carelessly.
- Mess up: To make a mistake or cause disorder (more common and less vulgar).
- Screw up: To make a serious error (similar informality and strength).
- Foul up: To cause something to fail or go wrong.
- Flub: To fail or make a mistake, especially publicly.
Phrasal Verbs
- Bollix up is itself a phrasal verb. The particle "up" can sometimes be separated from the verb "bollix" by the object, as shown in the examples.
Verb
- 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