1 B2 idiomatic informal
To do a job or task very badly, especially through carelessness or incompetence, ruining the result.
"He completely botched up the plumbing repair and now there's water everywhere."
separable
botch up
B2 informal separable transitive
To carry out a task or job very badly, ruining the result through clumsiness or incompetence.
In plain English
To do a job so badly that you ruin it — especially a repair or task that needed skill.
What does "botch up" mean?
2 meanings, ordered from most common to least. Color-coded by CEFR level.
2 B2 idiomatic informal
To ruin a plan, situation, or opportunity through poor handling.
"The government completely botched up the vaccine rollout in the early weeks."
separable
Literal vs figurative
Words literally mean
'Botch' originally meant a clumsy patch or repair; 'botch up' means to make such a mess of something that it is now worse than before.
Actually means
To do a job so badly that you ruin it — especially a repair or task that needed skill.
Usage tip
Common in British and American English. 'Botch' originally meant to repair clumsily, so 'botch up' intensifies this — making a mess of something that was supposed to be fixed or completed properly. Often used for DIY repairs, surgical procedures, or plans. Also used as a noun: 'a botch-up'.
Words that pair with "botch up"
Natural word combinations native speakers use most often.
job repair operation plan attempt surgery
How to conjugate "botch up"
The five tense forms you'll use most often.
Base
botch up
I/you/we/they
3rd person
botches up
he/she/it
Past simple
botched up
yesterday
Past participle
botched up
have + pp
-ing form
botching up
continuous
Hear "botch up" in the wild
Listen to native speakers using "botch up" in real YouTube videos — click a clip to watch it on Looplines.
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