cock-up

Definition

A mistake.

Etymology

A deverbal from cock up.

Example Sentences

• "If the zodiac was already developed in 2000 BC, it must have been kept as a cult secret or in some non-Babylonian country; this would be a 1500-year conspiracy theory. More likely is the individual cockup theory, viz. the naivety of Eudoxus himself."
• "And I'm sorry for all the cock-ups, my cabinet are absolute crap. We'll have to do better next year."
• "In over a quarter of a century of writing this column, there has been no end of scandals, mishaps, errors and general cock-ups resulting from ministerial incompetence."