balls-up
In real, traceable use. Part of the curated seed collection; community review is coming.
Meaning · English
Something which becomes muddled or botched in some way.
Register: slang, vulgar
Examples
I was making a cake but when I added too much sugar, it became the balls-up of my cooking career.
Usage example from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-30)
Sources & notes
Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-30 via kaikki.org).
Common questions
What does “balls-up” mean?
Something which becomes muddled or botched in some way.
Is “balls-up” formal or informal?
balls-up is generally slang, vulgar.