# crap up

CEFR B2 · Phrasal verb

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/crap-up
Updated: 2026-10-22

## Definition

to ruin or spoil something by doing it badly. You use this when someone makes a mess of a plan or a job.

For teachers: to spoil, ruin, or perform a task poorly. This phrasal verb is transitive and carries a highly informal, mildly pejorative register.

## Examples

- Try not to crap up the surprise party.
- He really crapped up his chances of a promotion by arguing with the boss during the meeting.
- The legislative committee managed to crap up the original proposal so thoroughly that the primary sponsors eventually withdrew their support in frustration.

## Pitfalls

- Not "I am sorry I crapped up the formal application." but "I am sorry I made a mistake on the formal application." — The phrase is too informal for official or professional contexts.

## Usage notes

- Highly informal and should be avoided in professional or academic writing.
- Teaching tip: Compare with 'mess up' or 'screw up' to show varying levels of informal intensity; note that 'crap' is a mild swear word in some cultures.

---

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.