botch
noun
Botch — a mistake resulting from clumsy or careless workmanship
Definition
An embarrassing mistake
In depth
A botch is an embarrassing mistake, particularly one resulting from poor, clumsy, or careless execution of a task that required more skill or attention than was actually applied. The word, often used as a verb, 'to botch the job,' implies a visible, often irreparable failure of craftsmanship or competence.
Origin
The word's origin is uncertain, possibly related to Old French boche, a swelling or lump, suggesting an uneven, poorly finished surface. That image of visible roughness or imperfection, rather than mere conceptual error, gives the word its particular association with tangible, physical failures of craftsmanship and repair.
Usage examples
"The amateur repair turned into a complete botch, leaving the plumbing in worse condition than before anyone touched it."
"Critics called the restoration a botch, lamenting the damage done to a painting that could never be fully undone."
"He acknowledged the botch immediately, hiring professionals to properly correct the mistake he had made."
How to use it
Botch is accessible, somewhat informal vocabulary particularly common in writing about craftsmanship, repair, or restoration, useful for describing visible, often physically tangible failures of skill or care.
Related concepts
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