they messed up

USAGE SUMMARY

'they messed up' is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
You can use it when you want to express that someone did something wrong, either by mistake or deliberately. For example, "The team was so close to winning the match, but they messed up in the last few minutes."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Sport

Lifestyle

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

45 human-written examples

"They messed up their eyebrows.

The New York Times

They knew they messed up".

The New York Times

"They messed up," Carlos Negron said.

The New York Times

"You know the screenwriter's lament: 'They messed up my movie'?

The New York Times

Despite the score, they messed up quite a bit.

The New York Times - Sports

"They messed up and it's disgraceful people waited so long for the truth.

Independent

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

15 human-written examples

Those two over there--pointing to iHeart and Cumulus--they messed up, they did the dumb deals.

Forbes

They mess up your life".

The New York Times

But, again, they mess up the balance.

The New York Times - Magazine

If they mess up, that's the end of that.

The Guardian

If they mess up, they have a further two chances with different questions.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "they messed up" when speaking about teams or groups that have made a mistake.

Common error

While acceptable in many situations, avoid using "they messed up" in highly formal or professional settings. Opt for more neutral alternatives like "they made an error" or "they did not succeed" to maintain a professional tone.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "they messed up" serves as a declarative statement expressing that a group or entity made a mistake or performed poorly. Ludwig examples show its use across various contexts, affirming its role as a common expression of error or failure.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

63%

Sport

16%

Lifestyle

5%

Less common in

Academia

2%

Wiki

2%

Formal & Business

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "they messed up" is a common phrase used to express that a group or entity has made a mistake or performed poorly. According to Ludwig AI, the phrase is grammatically correct and widely used in various contexts, particularly in news and media. While acceptable in many situations, it is generally considered neutral to informal and should be used cautiously in formal or professional settings. Alternative phrases such as "they made a mistake" or "they erred" may be more suitable in those contexts.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

they made a mistake

This alternative is a more neutral and straightforward way of saying someone erred.

they screwed up

This alternative is more informal and carries a stronger negative connotation.

they blundered

This alternative suggests a clumsy or foolish mistake.

they failed

This alternative focuses on the lack of success rather than the mistake itself.

they dropped the ball

This alternative is an idiom that implies a failure to fulfill a responsibility.

they erred

This alternative is a more formal and somewhat archaic way of saying someone made a mistake.

they goofed

This alternative suggests a silly or trivial mistake.

they slipped up

This alternative implies a momentary lapse in performance.

they miscalculated

This alternative specifies that the error involved a wrong calculation or assessment.

they mismanaged

This alternative implies a failure in handling or controlling something.

FAQs

What does "they messed up" mean?

The phrase "they messed up" means that someone or a group of people made a mistake or handled something poorly, resulting in an unfavorable outcome.

How can I use "they messed up" in a sentence?

You can use "they messed up" to express disappointment or criticism. For example: "The company was doing well, but "they messed up" the launch of the new product."

What's a more formal way to say "they messed up"?

Alternatives such as "they made a mistake", "they erred", or "they failed" are more formal and suitable for professional contexts. Use alternatives like "they made a mistake" in situations that require a more polished and reserved tone.

What are some similar but more informal ways to say "they messed up"?

For more casual scenarios, you could say "they screwed up" or "they goofed". However, be mindful of your audience, as these phrases can be considered impolite in some settings.