COCK-UP


Meaning of COCK-UP in English

ˈcock-up BrE AmE noun [countable] British English spoken informal

something that has been spoiled by someone’s stupid mistake or by being done badly:

He’s made a monumental cock-up of his first assignment.

cock-up over

There’s been a cock-up over the tickets for the football on Saturday.

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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.

Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English.      Longman - Словарь современного английского языка.