mauled up

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "mauled up" is not standard in written English and may be considered incorrect or unclear.
It could be used informally to describe something that has been damaged or messed up, but it is not widely recognized. Example: "After the storm, the garden was completely mauled up, with plants uprooted and debris everywhere."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

As Australia got mauled up front in nearly every contest the likes of Aiden Tolman, Tim Mannah and Jacob Lillyman were watching from home despite averaging more metres per game in 2014 than Klemmer.

The Guardian - Sport

Munster mauled up close from a lineout and the recycled ball was carried over by Stander.

BBC

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

“See how far immortality will get you after you’ve been mauled, chewed up and regurgitated by a thousand-pound bear,” retorts Twinkleflake.

Forbes

Bring the maul up and down.

WikiHow

The words "racism" and "racist" have been mauled, mangled, and hacked up so much they've lost any real meaning, or substance, let alone useful words to identify anyone with as a racist.

Huffington Post

2.37pm GMT 5 min Taken by Toner and Ireland maul it, held up on the 22. Murray spins it infield to D'Arcy who is tackled but it's moved on to O'Driscoll.

The Guardian - Sport

A clever chip ahead from Biggar then yielded a lineout deep in the Argentina 22 and Gareth Davies eventually sniped over after the driving maul came up short.

The Guardian - Sport

"I felt we got our maul set up really well and it was disappointing to at least not come out of it [the game] with one point," Schmidt said.

BBC

Bring the maul back up over your shoulder on the side of your dominant hand, then bring down in a chopping motion with a hard, solid blow.

WikiHow

"You re-emerge kind of cut up and bruised and mauled by a wild animal somehow," he says.

Vice

Worse, they will have a president pulling one way and a reform-minded prime minister and government tugging the other.Mr Meciar, a brutish demagogue who mauled freedoms and mucked up the economy during his five years in charge, will certainly get a lot of votes.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Avoid using "mauled up" in formal or professional writing. Opt for more standard alternatives like "damaged", "beaten", or "destroyed" to ensure clarity and credibility.

Common error

Be cautious when using phrasal verbs like "mauled up" in academic or professional contexts. While they can add color to informal writing, they may detract from the clarity and precision expected in formal communication. Consider whether a more direct and widely accepted word choice would better serve your purpose.

Linguistic Context

Descriptive phrase, often functioning as a modifier. It describes the state of something or someone that has been severely damaged or roughly handled. The phrase is used to emphasize the extent of the damage. As Ludwig AI points out, its informal nature should be considered.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

67%

Wiki

33%

Science

0%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "mauled up" is an informal expression meaning severely damaged or beaten. While it appears in some news and media contexts, as highlighted by Ludwig, it is generally considered non-standard and unsuitable for formal writing. Alternatives like "damaged", "beaten", or "destroyed" are preferable in professional or academic settings. The sporadic use of "mauled up" suggests that while it can effectively convey a sense of significant harm, its informality limits its applicability in broader contexts.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

badly beaten

Focuses on the physical defeat and injury aspect implied in some usages of "mauled up".

severely damaged

Highlights the aspect of being heavily damaged or broken, similar to the impact of being "mauled".

utterly defeated

Emphasizes the complete nature of the defeat, akin to being overwhelmed and "mauled".

torn apart

Conveys a sense of destruction and disarray, similar to a forceful "mauling".

thoroughly trashed

Implies a comprehensive damaging or messing up, comparable to being "mauled up".

completely wrecked

Indicates a state of total ruin or destruction.

heavily criticized

Focuses on the verbal aspect of being severely attacked or criticized, sometimes analogous to being "mauled" in an argument.

badly mangled

Stresses the distorted and damaged condition resulting from a violent encounter.

left in shambles

Highlights the resulting disorganization and chaos.

decisively trounced

Emphasizes a conclusive and overwhelming victory against someone.

FAQs

What does "mauled up" mean?

The phrase "mauled up" generally means severely damaged or beaten, often in a physical or competitive context. It's not a standard phrase, so its meaning can vary.

Is it correct to use "mauled up" in formal writing?

No, it is generally not appropriate to use "mauled up" in formal writing. Consider using more standard alternatives such as "severely damaged" or "badly beaten".

What are some synonyms for "mauled up"?

Depending on the context, you can use synonyms such as "torn apart", "completely wrecked", or "thoroughly trashed" instead of "mauled up".

How can I avoid using informal phrases like "mauled up" in my writing?

To avoid using informal phrases, review your writing for colloquial expressions and replace them with more formal equivalents. Consulting a thesaurus or style guide can help you find appropriate alternatives.