ENGLISH
REFERENCE

botch up

phr. v..
B2 Upper Intermediate Oxford

phr. v.. to do a piece of work or a task very badly or carelessly. You use this when someone makes a mess of a job.

phr. v.. to perform a task clumsily or unsuccessfully; to ruin something through poor workmanship or lack of skill. Often carries a colloquial register.


SIMPLE

I really botched up the interview yesterday.

CONTEXTUAL

The builders botched up the roof repair, and now it leaks even more than before.

COMPLEX

The administration botched up the rollout of the new software, leading to widespread confusion among the staff and a significant loss in productivity.

Particles
up
Separability
optional
Pattern
botch + (object) + up
Usage

often used with tasks, repairs, or social situations that go wrong.

Teaching tip

point out that 'botch' can be used alone as a verb with the same meaning; adding 'up' emphasizes the completeness of the failure.

Pitfall

He botched up of the project.He botched up the project.the phrasal verb is transitive and takes a direct object without an extra preposition like 'of'.

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