What does cockup mean?
A cockup is a blunder — a mistake significant enough to cause real disruption, confusion, or embarrassment. The word is chiefly British and informal, though it appears regularly in newspapers, political commentary, and workplace conversation, often in phrases like 'a complete cockup' or 'make a cockup of something'. It typically implies human error or organizational failure rather than bad luck: a botched product launch, a shambolic event, or a mishandled administrative process can all be described as cockups. The plural is usually written 'cock-ups', and the word is frequently hyphenated in its singular form too. Although it contains an element with slangy anatomical associations, 'cockup' itself is not considered obscene and is acceptable in most non-formal contexts. Its vividness and slight irreverence make it a popular choice when writers want to convey exasperation at incompetence without resorting to stronger language.
nounA blunder or serious mistake; a complete mess caused by error or incompetence.
- A blunder, bungle, or serious mistake, especially one resulting from carelessness or poor organization.
"The ticketing system crashed on launch day in what was widely described as a monumental cockup."
"The rail operator admitted that the timetable chaos was entirely its own cockup."
"Someone made a right cockup of my order and sent three left shoes."
The plural is normally written with a hyphen, though 'cockups' also occurs.
"The department's repeated cock-ups finally cost the minister her job."
Despite sounding rude, 'cockup' has been respectable enough to appear in British parliamentary debates and broadsheet headlines for decades.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of cockup
Cockup derives from the phrasal verb 'cock up', meaning to ruin or bungle, which emerged in British English in the early twentieth century; the noun followed shortly afterwards. The verb combines 'cock' in the sense of turning something up or awry with the adverbial particle 'up'. It remains primarily a British colloquialism, with no true cognates in other languages.
How cockup is actually used
Chiefly British and informal; common in journalism and everyday speech but avoided in very formal writing. Often written hyphenated as 'cock-up'. Though built on a word with anatomical slang senses, the term itself is not obscene and is freely used in mainstream media.
Easily confused with cockup
A hiccup is a minor temporary setback, whereas a cockup is a full-blown mistake or botched job.