foul up
MediumInformal
Definition
Meaning
to make a mistake, error, or cause a situation to become chaotic or unsuccessful, often through incompetence or mismanagement.
To spoil or ruin something through blundering; to botch or mess up; can also refer to the state of confusion or malfunction resulting from such an error.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Primarily used as a phrasal verb. Often implies a degree of negligence or incompetence rather than a simple honest mistake. Can be used transitively ('foul something up') or intransitively ('things fouled up'). The noun form 'foul-up' denotes the mistake or chaotic situation itself.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Slightly more common in American English, but widely understood and used in both. The noun form 'foul-up' is equally common in both varieties.
Connotations
Carries a connotation of frustration and blame. Less severe than 'screw up' but more pointed than 'make a mistake'.
Frequency
Common in spoken and informal written language (e.g., business emails, narratives). Less frequent in formal reports or academic writing.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
[NP] fouled up[NP] fouled up [NP][NP] was fouled up by [NP]Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “A foul-up of epic proportions”
- “Don't foul up the pitch (derived from sports)”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
'The new software update fouled up the entire payroll system.'
Academic
Rare; more likely in informal speech among colleagues: 'I fouled up the data entry for the survey.'
Everyday
'Sorry I'm late, the traffic signals are all fouled up.'
Technical
Used in engineering/computing contexts for malfunctions: 'A corrupted file fouled up the rendering process.'
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- The wet weather completely fouled up our picnic plans.
- If you enter the data wrong, you'll foul up the whole calculation.
American English
- He really fouled up the client presentation by forgetting the slides.
- Don't let one missed step foul you up.
adverb
British English
- Not typically used as an adverb.
American English
- Not typically used as an adverb.
adjective
British English
- The situation was utterly foul-up by the delayed delivery.
- We're in a right foul-up state here.
American English
- Everything's been foul-up since the server crashed.
- The instructions were so foul-up that nobody could follow them.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- I don't want to foul up your game.
- Be careful not to foul up the computer settings.
- A single miscommunication fouled up the entire project timeline.
- The logistical foul-up resulted in significant financial losses for the firm.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a footballer committing a FOUL, which UPsets the game and ruins a good play.
Conceptual Metaphor
ERROR IS A CONTAMINANT / DISRUPTION OF ORDER (to 'foul' something is to make it dirty or impure, thus disrupting its proper function).
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Avoid translating literally as 'загрязнять вверх'. Think 'испортить', 'запутать', 'накосячить' (slang).
Common Mistakes
- Using 'foul' alone to mean 'make a mistake' (e.g., 'I fouled' is incorrect). Forgetting the particle 'up'. Using in overly formal contexts.
Practice
Quiz
Which sentence uses 'foul up' correctly?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, it's informal but not vulgar. It is acceptable in most casual and many professional informal contexts.
Yes, the hyphenated form 'foul-up' is a common noun meaning a mistake or chaotic situation (e.g., 'a major administrative foul-up').
They are very similar synonyms. 'Foul up' can sometimes imply a slightly more blameworthy or systemic error, while 'mess up' is more general.
Yes. You can say 'foul up the plans' or 'foul the plans up'. However, if the object is a pronoun, it must go in the middle: 'foul them up'.