Phrase guide

bugger up

verb · 2 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

Each Play button uses your device's default local English voice, or a natural local fallback. The selected voice name appears after playback. This is synthesized speech, not a source recording.

  • Received-Pronunciation: /ˈbʌɡə(ɹ)ʌp/
  • General-American: /ˈbʌɡəɹ ʌp/
  • Australia: Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.

1

verb

Meaning 1

To break or spoil something, or make it inoperative, useless etc.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: Australia, Ireland, New-Zealand, UK, informal

Examples

  • I've buggered up the sudoku somehow and can't finish it.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: booger up

Antonyms: none provided

2

verb

Meaning 2

To injure or harm (someone).

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: Australia, Ireland, New-Zealand, UK, informal

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

History

Etymology

No etymology was provided for this word.

Across languages

Translations

8 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Czech: zkurvit — to break or spoil something
  • Polish: partaczyć — to break or spoil something
  • Polish: spartaczyć — to break or spoil something
  • Polish: spieprzać — to break or spoil something
  • Polish: spieprzyć — to break or spoil something
  • Tok Pisin: bagarap — to break or spoil something
  • Tok Pisin: bagarapim — to break or spoil something
  • Mandarin: 搞砸 (gǎozá) — to break or spoil something