mishandling
mishandling — noun
1. the situation where a problem, object, or person is dealt with using too little
the situation where a problem, object, or person is dealt with using too little care, attention, or skill, often leading to damage or a bad result.
The mishandling of the package left Nora's vase smashed into small pieces.
mishandling of + concrete object
Reporters blamed the airline's mishandling of luggage for the long delays at the gate.
the [organisation]'s mishandling of [issue]
Voters were angry about the government's mishandling of the flood response in coastal towns.
Sari said the manager's mishandling of staff complaints had pushed three nurses to quit.
There were several reports of police mishandling during the protest in Lisbon.
- mismanagement
narrower — only about managing affairs or organisations, not about physical handling
- negligence
stronger — implies a legal or moral duty was breached
- bungling
informal — stresses clumsy incompetence in a one-off action
- proper management
for the administrative reading
文法句型
mishandling of + noun
用法筆記
Almost always followed by 'of + noun'. Subject is usually an organisation, official, or person in charge, and the object is a problem, situation, or thing entrusted to them.
常見錯誤
mishandling — verb
1. to deal with a problem, task, or situation in a wrong or clumsy way, often becau
to deal with a problem, task, or situation in a wrong or clumsy way, often because you do not understand it or do not give it enough attention.
Mathieu mishandled the customer complaint and lost a long-standing client for the firm.
transitive: mishandle + [issue / problem]
Critics argued that the mayor had mishandled the housing crisis for almost two years.
common subject: politician / official
Shirin was worried that her assistant might mishandle the contract negotiations next week.
The new accountant admitted that she had mishandled the year-end tax filings.
Reviewers said the director mishandled the final scenes and ruined an otherwise strong film.
文法句型
mishandle + noun
用法筆記
Object is almost always something abstract that requires decision-making — a case, crisis, situation, negotiation, complaint, investigation. Distinguish from sense 2, whose object is physical (a parcel, an animal, a person's body).
常見錯誤
2. to touch, hold, or move a physical thing, an animal, or a person in a rough or c
to touch, hold, or move a physical thing, an animal, or a person in a rough or careless way that may cause damage or pain.
Talia warned the movers not to mishandle the antique mirror her grandmother had left her.
transitive: mishandle + fragile object
The lab technician was fired for mishandling specimens that needed to be kept frozen.
passive-style nominal: 'for mishandling specimens'
Witnesses say the guards mishandled several detainees during the search at the border.
Christopher mishandled the puppy and made it cry by squeezing its small ribs.
Airport staff are trained never to mishandle bags marked with a fragile sticker.
文法句型
mishandle + physical object / animal / person
用法筆記
Distinguish from sense 1: here the object is something physical that can be touched (a parcel, animal, body, instrument). When the object is a problem, plan, or process, use sense 1 instead.