Meaning

(Commonwealth, mildly vulgar slang) A mistake..

Definitions by Sense

1. (Commonwealth, mildly vulgar slang) A mistake.
2. (obsolete, UK, Ireland, printers' slang) A superior letter; a lower-case letter placed above the baseline and made smaller than ordinary script; traditionally used in abbreviations.
3. (obsolete, Scotland) A roll or twist of hair worn at the nape of the neck; a bun.

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.

The first word of every section or chapter is generally put in small capitals, after a small neat cock-up letter.

Cockernonie, a gathering up of the hair of women, after a fashion similar to that of the modern "chignon," and sometimes called a "cock-up." Mr. Kirkton, of Edinburgh, preaching against "cock-ups"—of which chignons were the representatives a quarter of a century ago—said: "I have been all this year preaching against the vanity of women, yet I see my own daughter in the kirk even now with as high a 'cock-up' as any one of you all."

Word Forms

• cock-ups

Synonyms for cock-up

Related Words

When Should You Use Cock-up?

Use cock-up when its meaning, tone and grammar fit the full sentence. A synonym is not always a direct replacement.

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