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arse up

C1 slang separable transitive
In simple words

Make a terrible mess of something; completely ruin it.

Literal meaning: To turn something so it is bottom-side (arse) up — i.e., upside down and ruined.

Meanings

1 C1 idiomatic slang

To ruin something or make a serious mistake in handling it.

"He completely arsed up the client presentation and lost the contract."

Grammar: separable
Usage notes

Vulgar British slang. Nearly synonymous with 'cock up' and 'balls up'. Describes making a serious mistake or ruining something. Can be used as a noun too ('a complete arse-up'). Not suitable in formal contexts.

Commonly used with

plan presentation job deal project interview

Forms

Base
arse up
I/you/we/they
3rd person
arses up
he/she/it
Past simple
arsed up
yesterday
Past participle
arsed up
have + pp
-ing form
arsing up
continuous

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