Definition

1. Noun:
   • An unintentional but embarrassing blunder or error: A "trip-up" is a minor mistake, often in speech or action, that causes awkwardness or reveals a lapse in memory or coordination.
   • A stumble or misstep, literal or figurative: It can refer to a physical stumble or, more commonly, a figurative slip, such as an error in a sequence or performance.

Usage and Examples

• Noun:
  • His only mistake in the speech was a minor trip-up on the foreign minister's name.
  • The actor's trip-up in the second act was barely noticeable to the audience.
  • After a smooth presentation, a single trip-up on the final statistic undermined her confidence.

Advanced Usage and Nuances

• "to cause a trip-up": to be the reason for someone's error or stumble.
  • The complex wording of the legal document caused a trip-up for many readers.
• Used to describe errors in performances (e.g., speeches, music, sports) or in processes where smooth execution is expected.

Variants and Related Words

• Trip (verb): To catch one's foot on something and stumble; to cause someone to do this. ( / )
• Trip (noun): A journey; also, a stumble. ( / )
• Trip-up is often synonymous with slip-up or blunder when used as a noun.

Synonyms

• Slip-up: A minor or careless mistake.
• Blunder: A stupid or careless mistake.
• Misstep: A mistake in judgment or action; a wrong step.
• Faux pas: A socially awkward or tactless act.

Related Phrasal Verbs

• Trip up (phrasal verb): To cause someone to make a mistake, especially with a tricky question, or to stumble.
  • The prosecutor tried to trip up the witness with contradictory evidence.
  • Be careful on the path so you don't trip up on the tree roots.

Related Idioms

• To trip over one's own feet/tongue: To make a clumsy physical mistake or a verbal error due to nervousness.
  • He was so nervous during the introduction that he tripped over his own tongue.

Noun

1. an unintentional but embarrassing blunder
   • he recited the whole poem without a single trip
   • he arranged his robes to avoid a trip-up later
   • confusion caused his unfortunate misstep