major screwup
1
5.6
- noun
- /ˈmeɪdʒər ˈskruːʌp/
- Informal
:
gran error
- MAJOR, MAJOR screwup on the part of the State Dept. and the Feds.
Examples
-
The team made a major screwup by missing the project deadline, costing them the contract.
-
Can't I go to the loading dock for a few hours without coming back to find a major screwup?
-
What a major screwup!
-
Anyway, with that major screwup behind us, we can proceed to the defendant's argument that his federal sentence, under 5G1.3(b), should have run concurrently with his state sentence.
Blog text (2) -
I only have one major screwup a day.
-
Can't I go to the loading dock for a few hours without coming back to find a major screwup?
Synonyms
∞
1.0
A wrong action or decision
76
6.2
A complete embarrassing failure that happens suddenly and causes big problems
49
3.0
A careless mistake that causes embarrassment or problems
20
6.5
A problem that happens because of a big mistake and spoils plans
9
5.1
A situation that is badly organized and full of mistakes
7
4.1
A very serious error that causes great harm or loss
5
9.9
A serious or embarrassing mistake that causes problems
5
7.7
A serious, embarrassing mistake often caused by confusion or poor planning
3
7.6
An embarrassing mistake that happens because of bad or careless work
1
9.6
A serious mistake that happens because of confusion or poor planning
1
9.9
A very serious mistake that causes big problems, often because someone was careless
A very large mistake that causes big problems
A foolish mistake made without thinking that causes trouble
Antonyms
How Serious
- Informal
1
5.6
- Informal
20
6.5
49
3.0
37
1.0
- Informal
1
7.0
Surface Forms
Morphology
The noun phrase is a straightforward composition: 'major' (large/serious) simply modifies 'screwup' (an error/mistake). The resulting meaning 'a significant mistake' is directly derivable from the constituents and follows a common adjective + noun intensifier pattern, so a B1 learner who knows both words would understand it.
Etymology
Major screwup paints a simple picture: imagine a small screw turned the wrong way so a machine breaks. With major meaning big, that's why it means 'a very large mistake'.