The first time I heard the expression cock-up was on "The Thin Blue Line," one of the funniest British comedies to be shown on US TV. This is the one about a bunch of bumbling cops led by Inspector Fowler (played by the ubiquitous Rowan Atkinson). Each episode features Fowler butting heads with DI Grim, who runs the detective section. In one episode Fowler remarks that there's been "a real cock-up," and Grim replies, "Cock-up, my ass!" Clever, what?