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Vocabulary : Phrasal Verbs : M : muck up

muck up Informal

Meaning: If you muck something up, you do it badly and fail to achieve your goal.

Synonym: mess up, screw up (informal)

For example:

  • muck up sth I went to a new barber today and he mucked up my hair style. It looks terrible.

  • muck sth up Sally went to a job interview today, and she thinks she mucked it up. She said she was really nervous and she couldn't think clearly.

Quick Quiz:

If you muck something up at work, your boss will probably
  1. thank you
  2. criticise you
  3. congratulate you

Grammar explanation: separable and non-separable phrasal verbs

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