screws up

A politician or pundit screws up on one, and is made fun of on the other.

When a company screws up, the government delivers a slap on the wrist—and then awards the company with new contracts.

The more complicated the process, the less we are likely to notice when the federal government screws up.

“The annoying thing about life is that it screws up the production,” Fin muses.

Second and more fun, but less likely: Romney really screws up in some way.

The author picks up the other bottle, holds it to the light, screws up one eye at it, and places it lengthwise on the table.

Assemble as previously described, using glue where necessary and turning all screws up tightly.

He screws up his face, and the more fervent the prayer is (or the more people are looking at him), the more grimaces he makes.

"Out of tune," mutters Bob, and he screws up one of the little pegs to tighten the string; then he tries again.

First Itinerant Physician (as he screws up fragments of candy in pieces of newspaper).