versemmeln
Translation
to mess up, to botch, to flub, to screw up
Examples
Er hat die Prüfung total versemmelt.
He totally messed up the exam.
Ich habe die letzte Frage versemmelt.
I messed up the last question.
Versemmel das nicht!
Don't screw this up!
Grammar Patterns
to mess ((sth.)) up to ruin sth. He messed up the whole project.
Similar Words
Synonyms: vermasseln, vergeigen, verbocken (all colloquial for 'to mess up'); Antonyms: schaffen (to manage), meistern (to master)
Etymology
From 'ver-' (prefix for mistake) + 'Semmel' (a type of bread roll in Southern Germany/Austria). The origin is colloquial, possibly from botching something simple like baking a roll.
Memory Tips
Imagine trying to bake a 'Semmel' (bread roll) and it goes completely wrong ('ver-'). You've 'versemmelt' it. It's a very informal, slightly funny-sounding word.