Browse all

bollocks up

C1 slang separable transitive
In simple words

To completely mess something up — a rude British way of saying you ruined it.

Meanings

1 C1 idiomatic slang

(British vulgar slang) To ruin or completely mismanage something.

"Trust him to bollocks up the simplest task — he's booked us on the wrong flight."

Grammar: separable
Usage notes

British vulgar slang. The related noun 'a bollocks-up' (or 'balls-up') is also common. Not appropriate in formal settings. Often used with strong emotion or exasperation. The noun form ('what a balls-up!') is arguably more frequent.

Commonly used with

deal plan interview opportunity project everything

Forms

Base
bollocks up
I/you/we/they
3rd person
bollockses up
he/she/it
Past simple
bollocksed up
yesterday
Past participle
bollocksed up
have + pp
-ing form
bollocksing up
continuous

Understand "bollocks up" better

Try:

Real video examples

Video examples are being collected. Check back soon.

Synonyms

Want to master this phrasal verb?

Practice "bollocks up" on Looplines