screw up

verb8

1. •
   To tighten or secure with screws.
2. •
   (informal) To make a mess of; to ruin.

   • Don't screw this up! You've gotta be a part of this too. — 2007
3. •
   (informal) To blunder; to make a mistake.

   • Let me finish… you screwed up, but you screwed up for the right reasons. You're going to make mistakes, but it's how you deal with those mistakes, that's going to make the difference. — 2000
4. •
   To twist into a contorted state.

   • The baby screwed up his face and began to bawl.
5. •
   To squint.

   • As they were finishing breakfast came the postman with a letter from Derby. Mrs. Morel screwed up her eyes to look at the address. — 1913
6. •
   To raise or summon up.
7. •
   To raise by turning a rotary handle.

   • A crunch on the gravel brought me back to the present. A triffid came swaying down the drive toward the gate. I leaned across and screwed up the window. — 1951
8. •
   To raise (rent, fees, etc.) to extortionate levels.

   • As far as was possible he kept his subjects as mindless fighting-cocks, troops that could be promised to one power if there was a chance of screwing up another power to a bigger subsidy. — 1942