goof-up: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
Medium (spoken) / Low (written)Informal, colloquial, often humorous
Quick answer
What does “goof-up” mean?
A silly mistake or blunder.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A silly mistake or blunder.
An instance of carelessness, ineptitude, or a failure to perform a simple task correctly, often with minor, humorous consequences.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
More common in American English, but widely understood in British English. In British English, alternatives like 'cock-up' or 'mess-up' may be slightly more frequent.
Connotations
Equally light-hearted and non-offensive in both dialects. Not considered vulgar.
Frequency
Significantly more frequent in American English. In British English, it is a recognized borrowed informalism.
Grammar
How to Use “goof-up” in a Sentence
I made a goof-up.That was a real goof-up on their part.The goof-up caused a delay.Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “goof-up” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- Try not to goof up the presentation slides.
American English
- He totally goofed up his lines in the school play.
adjective
British English
- It was a classic goof-up moment when I put salt in my tea.
American English
- We had a goof-up situation with the hotel booking.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Used to describe an unprofessional error, often in a post-mortem of a failed project ('The data entry goof-up cost us the client').
Academic
Rarely used; considered too informal for academic writing.
Everyday
Common in casual conversation about minor personal errors ('I made a goof-up and locked my keys in the car').
Technical
Not used in technical writing; would be replaced by specific terms like 'miscalculation' or 'system error'.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “goof-up”
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “goof-up”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “goof-up”
- Spelling as 'goofup' or 'goof up' (as a noun, it is hyphenated).
- Using it in formal writing.
- Confusing it with 'goof off' (to waste time).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, it is informal and humorous. It is less harsh than 'screw-up' and is not considered vulgar.
'Goof-up' is a specific type of mistake—one that is clumsy, silly, and often minor. 'Mistake' is the broad, neutral term.
Yes, but the more common verb is the phrasal verb 'goof up' (without the hyphen). For example: 'I goofed up the order.'
It originated in and is most common in American English, but it is perfectly well understood in British English and other varieties.
A silly mistake or blunder.
Goof-up is usually informal, colloquial, often humorous in register.
Goof-up: in British English it is pronounced /ˈɡuːf ʌp/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈɡuf ˌəp/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “A comedy of goof-ups.”
- “It's all goof-ups and giggles until someone gets hurt.”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of 'goofy' the clumsy Disney character + 'up' (meaning to make a mess). A goof-up is something a goofy person does.
Conceptual Metaphor
ERROR IS A CLUMSY ACT (fumbling/dropping things).
Practice
Quiz
In which context would 'goof-up' be LEAST appropriate?