I. blun ‧ der 1 /ˈblʌndə $ -ər/ BrE AmE noun [countable]
a careless or stupid mistake:
A last-minute blunder cost them the match.
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THESAURUS
■ a stupid mistake
▪ blunder a stupid mistake caused by not thinking carefully enough about what you are saying or doing, which could have serious results:
In a serious blunder by the hospital, two babies were sent home with the wrong parents.
▪ gaffe /ɡæf/ an embarrassing and stupid mistake made in a social situation or in public:
a serious gaffe in her speech about immigration
▪ howler British English a very bad mistake, especially one that shows you do not know something, and that often makes other people laugh:
Photographers should be careful of making classic howlers, such as having a tree grow out of your subject’s head.
▪ cock-up British English informal a silly mistake when you are doing something – a very informal use:
They made a cock-up with the bill.
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The government is anxious to avoid any more cock-ups.
II. blunder 2 BrE AmE verb
[ Date: 1300-1400 ; Origin: Probably from a Scandinavian language ]
1 . [intransitive always + adverb/preposition] to move in an unsteady way, as if you cannot see properly
blunder about/around
Someone was blundering about in the kitchen.
blunder into/past/through etc something
Phil came blundering down the stairs.
2 . [intransitive] to make a big mistake, especially because you have been careless or stupid:
They blundered badly when they gave him the job.
3 . [intransitive always + adverb/preposition] to enter a place or become involved in a difficult situation by mistake
blunder into
Somehow we blundered into the war.
blunder in
He would have agreed if you hadn’t blundered in.