Bollocks Up May 2026

To (or "bollocks something up") is to completely ruin, mess up, or bungle a task through mistakes or incompetence.

It is primarily used in British, Irish, and Australian English and is considered vulgar or rude in most formal settings. 🏗️ Origins & Usage bollocks up

If you need a more polite or varied way to say it, consider these alternatives: To (or "bollocks something up") is to completely

: While "bollocks up" is British, the American equivalent is "bollix up" or more vulgarly, "f*ck up". 🔄 Common Synonyms 🔄 Common Synonyms Historically

Historically, the term "bollocks" refers to testicles, which contributes to its status as a slang or "offensive" phrase in some dictionaries.

: In the early days of printing, dropping a California Job type case (spilling all the movable type) was known as "bollocksing up the works," essentially rendering the project beyond repair.