verb

botch

boch

verb

To do something badly or carelessly, ruining the result.

"He botched the job interview by showing up an hour late."

"The contractor botched the repair and the roof leaked again within a week."

noun

A poorly done piece of work; a mess.

"The renovation was a total botch from start to finish."

How to Use Botch

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishTo do a job so poorly that it fails or has to be redone.

Common mistake

Usually used about a specific job or task, not about a person's general character — "he botched the repair," not "he is a botch."

Common pairings

botch a job botch it up a complete botch

botched past tense, botches plural, botches plural, botches singular

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He _____ the job interview by showing up an hour late.

From Middle English bocchen ("to mend"), of uncertain origin — possibly related to Old English words for repairing or improving something.

tch etch itch Dutch catch batch pitch watch witch hutch hatch ditch