Definitions

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.

  • initialism US, slang Fucked up (or, bowdlerized, fouled up) beyond all recognition (or beyond all repair).
  • initialism US, slang Fucked up but all right (flawed but working nonetheless).

Etymologies

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License

Originated as slang in the U.S. Army in World War II, presumably from earlier foo, possibly influenced by German furchtbar ("terrible"). Unclear if FUBAR or foobar was original form.

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Examples

  • Fine, but then he offers HIS plan, which is not any better (which part of the acronym FUBAR he fails to understand?).

    Quote Of The Day 2009

  • FUBAR is the only apt description of this god-awful political era.

    Think Progress » You’re still paying Mike Brown’s salary. 2005

  • It seems that bar was chosen for second metasyntactic name so as to allude to the acronym FUBAR when foo and bar are used together.

    On IT regional dialects DC 2008

  • Replacement wagons were in a stockroom called FUBAR, for Fucked Up Beyond All Repair.

    Stallion Gate Smith, Martin Cruz, 1942- 1986

  • There don't seem to be enough hours in the day, days in the week and so on and so forth, for me to do ALL the things I want, as well as those I MUST and the past few days have been especially busy; not to mention f@&ed up beyond all recognition (hereon known as FUBAR).

    WordPress.com Top Blogs 2009

  • Since you believe Iraq is "FUBAR", (because CBS, the NYT Times, and CNN tells you so every day), one can only conclude that the only plan you and the left have dinesh, is cut and run.

    Sound Politics: McGavick on Kerry 2006

  • Ironically enough -- DAVE LAWRENCE, "FUBAR": Definitely not the type of film for my father, trying to explain that we get dressed up and act like jackasses, and now we need some money to help -- to make it so that everyone can see us act like jack-asses.

    CNN Transcript Jan 16, 2002 2002

  • MICHAEL DOWSE, "FUBAR": Definitely made it with a lot of effort, a lot of passion, a lot of beer.

    CNN Transcript Jan 16, 2002 2002

  • PAUL SPENCE, "FUBAR": Well, literally since you were born.

    CNN Transcript Jan 16, 2002 2002

  • Trailer for the Theatre of NOTE production of Karl Gajdusek's "FUBAR"

    WN.com - Articles related to Shirley Valentine/Educating Rita, Menier Chocolate Factory, London 2010

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