C1 noun Neutral

botch

/bɒtʃ/

A botch refers to a piece of work that has been performed poorly, clumsily, or carelessly, resulting in a failed or messy outcome. It often describes a task that was attempted without the necessary skill or attention to detail, leading to a ruined result.

Examples

3 of 5
1

I tried to paint the bedroom myself, but it ended up being a complete botch with streaks everywhere.

I tried to paint the bedroom myself, but it ended up being a complete botch with streaks everywhere.

2

The administrative handling of the merger was a total botch, resulting in several legal complications.

The administrative handling of the merger was a total botch, resulting in several legal complications.

3

Man, what a botch; you were supposed to bring the tickets, not leave them on the table!

Man, what a botch; you were supposed to bring the tickets, not leave them on the table!

Word Family

Noun
botch
Verb
botch
Adverb
botchedly
Adjective
botched
Related
botcher
💡

Memory Tip

Think of a 'Bot' (robot) trying to make a 'Watch' but smashing the gears instead. That is a 'Bot-ch'.

Quick Quiz

The contractor made such a _____ of the plumbing that the basement flooded the next day.

Correct!

The correct answer is: botch

Examples

1

I tried to paint the bedroom myself, but it ended up being a complete botch with streaks everywhere.

everyday

I tried to paint the bedroom myself, but it ended up being a complete botch with streaks everywhere.

2

The administrative handling of the merger was a total botch, resulting in several legal complications.

formal

The administrative handling of the merger was a total botch, resulting in several legal complications.

3

Man, what a botch; you were supposed to bring the tickets, not leave them on the table!

informal

Man, what a botch; you were supposed to bring the tickets, not leave them on the table!

4

The researchers admitted the initial data collection was a botch due to faulty sensor calibration.

academic

The researchers admitted the initial data collection was a botch due to faulty sensor calibration.

5

The product launch was a botch from the start because the marketing team missed the primary deadline.

business

The product launch was a botch from the start because the marketing team missed the primary deadline.

Word Family

Noun
botch
Verb
botch
Adverb
botchedly
Adjective
botched
Related
botcher

Common Collocations

make a botch of to perform a task very badly
a complete botch an absolute failure or mess
a botch job a piece of work done poorly or unprofessionally
total botch an entire or comprehensive failure
awful botch a very bad or unpleasant failure

Common Phrases

make a botch of things

to ruin a situation or task

a botch-up

a situation where something has been done badly

botched attempt

a failed or poorly executed try

Often Confused With

botch vs batch

A 'batch' is a group of things produced at once, while a 'botch' is a poorly done piece of work.

botch vs bungle

While similar, 'bungle' is more frequently used as a verb for the act of failing, whereas 'botch' frequently refers to the ruined physical result.

📝

Usage Notes

The word 'botch' is most commonly used in the phrase 'to make a botch of something.' It carries a strong connotation of clumsiness and lack of skill.

⚠️

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse it with 'batch' due to the similar vowel sound. It is also important to remember that it describes the result of the error, not just the error itself.

💡

Memory Tip

Think of a 'Bot' (robot) trying to make a 'Watch' but smashing the gears instead. That is a 'Bot-ch'.

📖

Word Origin

Originates from Middle English 'bocchen', meaning 'to patch' or 'to repair', which later evolved to mean a clumsy or poor repair job.

Grammar Patterns

Countable noun: a botch, two botches Often used with the preposition 'of' to indicate the subject of the failure. Usually takes 'make' or 'be' as the primary verb.
🌍

Cultural Context

In British and American DIY culture, a 'botch job' is a common term for a home repair that looks unprofessional or is barely functional.

Quick Quiz

The contractor made such a _____ of the plumbing that the basement flooded the next day.

Correct!

The correct answer is: botch

Related Words

contrahumary

C1

Describing an ideology, action, or technology that opposes or deviates from standard human nature, ethics, or biological limitations. It is frequently used in academic contexts to discuss concepts that challenge traditional humanistic values or the preservation of the human essence.

disanthropine

C1

To divest of human characteristics, interests, or associations. This verb is primarily used to describe the process of removing human-centric bias or stripping a subject of its human qualities to achieve a more objective or alien perspective.

overformant

C1

Describing a sound or speech signal that possesses excessive or exaggerated resonant frequencies known as formants. In acoustics and phonetics, this term refers to an unnatural vocal quality where spectral peaks are over-emphasized, often occurring in synthetic speech.

homochroner

C1

To synchronize or align multiple events, data points, or historical records so that they occur or are represented within the same chronological time frame. This technical verb is primarily used in specialized academic or data-driven contexts to ensure temporal consistency across different variables.

underclarful

C1

To explain a concept or process in a way that is intentionally or unintentionally less clear than the original subject, often by using excessive jargon or convoluted logic. It describes the act of obfuscating a topic while ostensibly trying to clarify it.

ansalvty

C1

To meticulously examine discarded, failed, or complex material in order to extract and recover specific items of value. This verb is primarily used in technical and analytical contexts where the recovery process requires a high degree of precision and scrutiny.

rechronship

C1

A specialized term referring to the process or state of re-establishing chronological order or temporal alignment between disparate data sets, events, or historical records. It is typically used in technical contexts to describe the restoration of a logical time-based sequence after a disruption or error.

anteportfy

C1

A structural or conceptual preliminary entrance or staging area located before a main gate or portal. It functions as a buffer zone for security, sorting, or preparation before entry into a primary restricted space.

antisolist

C1

Describing a preference for collective or ensemble performance rather than individual soloing. It characterizes an artistic or philosophical approach that prioritizes group harmony and collaborative contribution over the spotlighting of a single individual.

trifigous

C1

A trifigous is a specialized term for a structure or arrangement that possesses three distinct parts, prongs, or branches radiating from a common center. In technical and test-specific contexts, it often refers to a specific geometric configuration used to describe junctions or biological branching patterns.

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