screw over

In real, traceable use. Part of the curated seed collection; community review is coming.

Meaning · English

To cheat someone, or ruin their chances in a game or other situation.

Register: slang, vulgar

Where it’s used: Used American English

Examples

I would have won the game but you screwed me over when I landed on Mayfair.

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 “screw over” mean?

To cheat someone, or ruin their chances in a game or other situation.

Is “screw over” formal or informal?

screw over is generally slang, vulgar.