muff

• Substantiv mit zwei Hauptbedeutungen: ein warmer röhrenförmiger Handschuh bzw. eine Hülle für beide Hände und, im Sport, ein verpasster Ball oder ein Fehler.

A noun with two distinct meanings: a warm tubular covering for the hands, and in sports, an instance of dropping the ball.

1. Hand warmerB1formal

   A soft, tubular covering made of fur or fabric, open at both ends, used to keep the hands warm in cold weather.

   Muff

   • She wore a fur muff to protect her hands from the winter chill.
   • Victorian ladies often carried a muff as a fashionable accessory.
   • He pulled his hands deep into the muff for warmth.

2. Dropped ballB2informal

   An error in sports, especially baseball or cricket, where a player fails to catch or hold onto the ball.

   Fehler beim Fangen

   • The outfielder made a muff of the easy catch.
   • His muff in the final inning cost the team the game.
   • The goalkeeper's muff allowed the opponent to score.

   Synonymebobbledroperrorfumblemisplay

• Etwas nicht richtig fangen, falsch behandeln oder eine Gelegenheit verpassen; auch: eine Sache verderben oder vermasseln.

A verb meaning to fail to catch or handle something properly, or to bungle an opportunity.

1. B2informal

   To fail to catch or handle something properly, especially a ball in sports.

   Nicht fangen

   • The goalkeeper muffed the ball and let in a goal.
   • He muffed an easy catch during the cricket match.
   • She muffed the pass, causing the team to lose possession.

   Synonymebobbledropflubfumblemishandlemiss

   Antonymecatchgraspsnag

2. Make a mess ofB2informal

   To spoil or ruin something through incompetence or clumsiness.

   Verpfuschen

   • He completely muffed his job interview by arriving late.
   • She muffed the recipe by adding too much salt.
   • They muffed the presentation with poor preparation.

   Synonymeblowbotchbungleflubfumblemess upmuck upruinspoil

   Antonymeaccomplishexecutemastersucceed