biff it

Meanings

1. 1phrasefixed phraseinformalslang

   To fall or hit something hard, often in a clumsy or embarrassing way.

   Grammar: Used as an intransitive verb phrase; it does not take an object. You 'biff it' on the ice, not 'biff it the ice'.

   Patterns

   • biff it on something
   • biff it in front of someone
   • biff it hard

   I slipped on the wet floor and biffed it right in front of my boss.

   He tried to jump over the fence but biffed it and landed in the bushes.

   She was running too fast and biffed it on the sidewalk.

2. 2phrasefixed phraseinformalslang

   To fail badly at something, such as a test or performance.

   Grammar: Used informally to mean a complete failure; often followed by 'on' when mentioning the task.

   Patterns

   • biff it on a test
   • biff it at something
   • totally biff it

   I didn't study and totally biffed it on the history exam.

   The team biffed it in the final minutes and lost the game.

   He biffed it during his presentation and forgot all his points.

Common combinations

biff it on the ice

Be careful—you might biff it on the ice.

totally biff it

I totally biffed it when I tried to sing the high note.

biff it in front of everyone

She was so nervous that she biffed it in front of everyone.

biff it on a test

If you don't review, you'll biff it on the test.

Synonyms and how they differ

wipe out

This is also informal and means to fall or crash, especially in sports like surfing or skating; it is more specific to losing control.

blow it

This means to fail at something, often due to a mistake; it is more general and can be used for opportunities as well as tests.

mess up

This is a milder, more common phrase meaning to make a mistake or do something badly; it does not necessarily imply falling.

Opposites

Commonly confused: biff it or biff?

Practice

Make it your own

Write a sentence using “biff it”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.

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