Have you made any mistakes lately?

Maybe you got into a car crash, maybe you forgot to prepare for a big presentation at work.

Maybe you put on two different shoes.

When we make a mistake we can use the phrasal verb "screw up."

Here is a sample sentence:

I really screwed up today. I put on two different shoes for my business meeting.

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Screw up

• Meaning: When you "screw up" you make a mistake. This phrasal verb is often used to talk about something serious, but it can be used in a lot of different situations.

• Grammar tip: This is a separable phrasal verb. We can put the object between the two parts of the verb. What exactly did you "screw up"? For example, "I screwed my presentation up when my computer died."

• Examples: "This is your chance. Don't screw it up." or "How many times have you screwed up the recipe for homemade lasagna?"

Photo credit:  Neeta Lind, irina slutsky