# louse up

idiom

Source: https://englishreference.com/idiom/louse-up
Updated: 2026-08-10

## Meaning

To mess up; to confuse; to put into a state of disorder.

## Examples

- I did not mean to louse up your plans.
- The waiter was so distracted that he managed to louse up our entire dinner order.
- Despite his careful preparation, a single technical error threatened to louse up the entire presentation before the board of directors.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.