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big fuckup

big fuckup

1 9.9
A very serious mistake that causes big problems, often because someone was careless
  • noun
  • /bɪg ˈfʌkʌp/
  • Offensive
translation icon : gran cagada
  • His careless mistake in the calculation was a major big fuckup that could have been avoided.

Examples

  • Forgetting to double-check the report led to a serious big fuckup during the presentation.

  • Says he's the biggest fuckup in the Army.

  • Missing the deadline was a huge big fuckup that cost the team the contract.

Synonyms

fiasco
vsbig fuckup
76 6.2

A complete embarrassing failure that happens suddenly and causes big problems

is more about a single mistake caused by carelessness or ineptness
blunder
vsbig fuckup
49 3.0

A careless mistake that causes embarrassment or problems

is similar but suggests a more catastrophic or disastrous error
screw-up
vsbig fuckup
  • Informal
33 6.1

A careless mistake that causes problems or embarrassment

is like that but implies a larger, more disastrous outcome
screwup
vsbig fuckup
  • Informal
20 6.5

A problem that happens because of a big mistake and spoils plans

is more focused on one disastrous error due to incompetence
mess-up
vsbig fuckup
  • Informal
9 5.1

A situation that is badly organized and full of mistakes

focuses more on one major disastrous error from incompetence
tragic mistake
vsbig fuckup
7 4.1

A very serious error that causes great harm or loss

focuses more on blameworthy incompetence rather than the tragic outcome
fuckup
vsbig fuckup
  • Offensive
5 9.9

A serious or embarrassing mistake that causes problems

is the same idea but with stronger vulgar tone and emphasis
foul-up
vsbig fuckup
  • Informal
5 7.7

A serious, embarrassing mistake often caused by confusion or poor planning

is the same but usually signals a larger disastrous failure
botch
vsbig fuckup
3 7.6

An embarrassing mistake that happens because of bad or careless work

is like that but implies a more disastrous, large failure
major screwup
vsbig fuckup
  • Informal
1 5.6

A big mistake that causes serious problems

is similar but stresses extreme disaster and total failure
cockup
vsbig fuckup
  • Slang
1 9.6

A serious mistake that happens because of confusion or poor planning

stresses a disaster scale and heavy incompetence more strongly
balls-up
vsbig fuckup
  • Offensive
1 9.9

A situation made into a big mess by careless or bad actions

stresses disaster and clear incompetence rather than mere muddling
snafu
vsbig fuckup
  • Slang
9.9

In a state of complete confusion because of a mistake or bad planning

refers more directly to one disastrous mistake rather than general chaos
total shitfuck
vsbig fuckup
  • Offensive
9.9

A situation that is very messy and badly managed

targets a single disastrous mistake rather than overall poor management
complete buttfuck
vsbig fuckup
  • Offensive
9.9

A very bad, chaotic situation used as rude slang

is narrower, pointing to one major incompetent mistake instead
fuckball mistake
vsbig fuckup
  • Offensive
9.9

A very serious and foolish error that causes big problems

keeps the serious disaster sense but in a less vulgar register
gigundous mistake
vsbig fuckup
  • Informal
8.5

A very large mistake that causes big problems

focuses more on incompetence and disastrous causes rather than size

Antonyms

1.0

Getting what you want after working hard

How Serious

catastrophe
176 7.0
big fuckup
  • Offensive
1 9.9
to blunder
7 4.4
mistake
1.0
slip-up
13 3.7

Surface Forms

big fuckup singular
big fuckups plural

Morphology

big + fuckup

The noun 'fuckup' already means 'a major/error from incompetence' and the adjective 'big' merely intensifies that sense, so a learner who knows both constituents can readily infer 'a very serious mistake.' This is a straightforward adjective + noun composition following common intensifier patterns (though the expression is informal/vulgar in register).

Etymology

The noun big fuckup comes from the informal verb fuck up, which means 'to make a mess' or spoil something. Imagine carrying a stack of plates and dropping them, making a very large mess. The word big shows the mistake is serious, so the phrase means 'a serious or disastrous mistake'.