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to duff

to duff

1 9.4
To fail at something in a clumsy way
  • verb
  • /dʌf/
  • UK
translation icon : hacerlo mal
  • I could've duffed him to smithereens.

Examples

  • I was just ready to duff Duke out.

  • You duffed him up, I hope.

  • More often than not, I'll duff the shot.

    Fiction book (2002)
  • So, you thought you were gonna duff the Angelface, yeah?

  • I thought they'd just duff him up a bit.

  • Ops had given the go-ahead, but the weather duffed up.

  • Glatt duffs the shot, gets it back to Laflamme.

  • Well, I trust with the concord of our powers we can duff up the jiggery-pokery of these blighters and send them scuffering back to the fractious firmament from whence they came!

  • He tends to duff his golf shots when he gets nervous.

  • If you don't practice, you might duff the presentation.

Synonyms

to botch
vsto duff
63 6.0

To do something badly and spoil the result

focuses more on failing awkwardly than on spoiling the final result
to fumble
vsto duff
19 3.5

To do something clumsily and make a mistake

is about failing more broadly, not only one clumsy handling
to bumble
vsto duff
18 5.4

To move in a clumsy, confused way

means failing or performing badly not only awkward movement or speech
to muff
vsto duff
5 8.2

To fail to catch or handle something because you are clumsy

applies to failing or performing badly in many situations not only performances
to fall flat on one's face
vsto duff
  • Informal
5 7.1

To fail completely and feel embarrassed in front of others

refers to failing or performing badly but often less completely or intensely
to bodge
vsto duff
  • UK
9.9

Do a job badly so it does not work

means failing or performing poorly focusing on awkward action rather than messy appearance
to make a schmutter
vsto duff
  • Slang
9.9

To do something badly so it goes wrong

implies failing often because of clumsy or awkward behaviour
to belly-flop
vsto duff
  • Informal
6.9

To fail completely in an embarrassing way

signifies failing or performing badly but usually less extreme or catastrophic

Antonyms

846 2.0

To reach a goal after trying hard

58 3.7

To be much better than other people at an activity or subject

Idioms

up the duff
  • Slang
1 9.9

A woman who is expecting a baby

Compounds

plum duff
  • Archaic
1 9.9

A steamed or boiled sweet pudding made with dried fruit like raisins and currants

How Badly

to bungle
16 6.8
to duff
  • UK
1 9.4
to mess up
  • Informal
597 2.8
to slip up
  • Informal
27 4.1

Surface Forms

duff infinitive
duffed past
duffed past participle
duffing present participle
duffs third person singular

Etymology

Duff (verb) probably grew from the idea of something being 'duff' or useless, so to 'duff' something is to mess it up or fail at it. So when you say someone 'duffed' their lines, it means they performed badly or made a mistake.