screw things up

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "screw things up" is correct and usable in written English.
It is typically used to describe making a mistake or causing a problem in a situation. Example: "I really didn't mean to screw things up during the presentation; I was just nervous."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

'That would just allow people to screw things up.' " .

The New Yorker

Little by little, I figured out how not to screw things up too badly.

The New York Times

"Believe me, it takes almost nothing to completely screw things up out there," he said.

The New York Times

Given the celebrity of the situation, I didn't want to screw things up".

The New York Times

One less budget a year is one less opportunity for a government to screw things up with bad policy.

The Guardian - Business

If Colorado and Washington manage not to screw things up, more states will surely follow them in legalising including California, probably in 2016.

The Economist

Many of the engineers who dominate Google think that managers are a waste of space: they "get in the way, create bureaucracy and screw things up".

The Economist

The first great mandate for a First Woman is not to screw things up for the Second Woman or the Third.

The New York Times

And the one thing that could really screw things up would be if you have a manufactured crisis and Republicans choose to play brinksmanship all over again.

The New York Times

'That would just allow people to screw things up.' "  Malcolm Gladwell has been a staff writer for the The New Yorker since 1996.

The New Yorker

'You wake up in the night and think, "Why did I say that?" You screw things up and change your behaviour.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When discussing sensitive topics, consider using milder alternatives like "mess things up" or "complicate matters" to avoid sounding too harsh or offensive.

Common error

While "screw things up" is acceptable in informal settings, it may be inappropriate for formal writing. Use more professional alternatives like "complicate matters" or "hinder progress" in business or academic contexts.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "screw things up" functions as a phrasal verb, acting as the predicate of a clause. It typically describes an action that results in a negative or undesirable outcome. Ludwig AI examples show it commonly used to express concern about making errors.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Science

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "screw things up" is a common phrasal verb that describes making a mistake or causing a negative outcome. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's grammatically correct and widely used, though more appropriate in informal contexts. While it's prevalent in News & Media, using milder alternatives like "mess things up" or "complicate matters" is advisable in formal settings. Remember to avoid overusing this informal phrase in professional or academic writing to maintain a polished and appropriate tone.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

mess things up

Replaces "screw" with a milder term, "mess", reducing the intensity of the phrase.

make a mess of things

Emphasizes the state of disorder or confusion resulting from the action.

botch things up

Suggests a clumsy or unskilled handling of a situation, leading to failure.

foul things up

Implies ruining or spoiling something, often with a negative connotation.

bungle things

Highlights incompetence or lack of skill in managing a situation.

spoil things

Focuses on the act of ruining something that was previously good or promising.

ruin everything

Emphasizes the complete destruction or failure of something.

derail plans

Specifically refers to disrupting or obstructing planned activities.

sabotage efforts

Suggests a deliberate act of undermining or hindering progress.

create a disaster

Highlights the catastrophic consequences of the action.

FAQs

What does "screw things up" mean?

The phrase "screw things up" means to make a mistake, ruin something, or cause a situation to go badly.

What can I say instead of "screw things up"?

You can use alternatives like "mess things up", "bungle things", or "make a mess of things" depending on the context.

Is "screw things up" considered rude?

The phrase "screw things up" is considered informal and can be perceived as somewhat rude or impolite in formal settings. Use more professional language when communicating in professional environments.

How to use "screw things up" in a sentence?

You can use it to describe an action that negatively impacts a situation, such as: "I was afraid I would "screw things up" during the presentation."