foul up
B1 informal separable both
In simple words
Make a big, serious mistake that ruins or confuses something.
Meanings
1 B1
idiomatic
informal
To make a serious mistake that ruins or disrupts a plan, operation, or situation.
"Someone fouled up the bookings and now there aren't enough rooms for everyone."
Grammar: separable
2 B2 neutral
To become blocked, tangled, or confused (often of machinery or a system).
"The whole production line fouled up when the conveyor belt jammed."
Grammar: inseparable
Usage notes
Originally from military slang. A polite alternative to stronger expletive expressions. 'Foul-up' (noun) is the corresponding noun form. Common in both American and British English.
Commonly used with
plan operation schedule deal mission situation
Forms
Base
foul up
I/you/we/they
3rd person
fouls up
he/she/it
Past simple
fouled up
yesterday
Past participle
fouled up
have + pp
-ing form
fouling up
continuous
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