bungle
pronunciation
How to pronounce bungle in British English:
UK [ˈbʌŋɡl]
How to pronounce bungle in American English:
US [ˈbʌŋɡl]
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- Noun:
- an embarrassing mistake
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- Verb:
- make a mess of, destroy or ruin
- spoil by behaving clumsily or foolishly
Word Origin
- bungle (v.)
- 1520s, origin obscure. OED suggests imitative; perhaps a mix of boggle and bumble, or more likely from a Scandinavian word akin to Swedish bangla "to work ineffectually," Old Swedish bunga "to strike" (related to German Bengel "cudgel," also "rude fellow"). Related: Bungled; bungling.
- bungle (n.)
- 1650s, from bungle (v.).
Example
- 1. To make or perform clumsily ; bungle .
- 2. The whole job was a gigantic bungle .
- 3. Will bungle things to the camera s !
- 4. If african states bungle this , they will create a dangerous unemployed urban class .
- 5. You think they 're boobs , they 'll bungle the investigation ?