Now he finds himself out of work and with the first big blotch on his copybook.

BBC: The not-so dynamic duo

No one would mistake my chicken-like scrawl for the elegant loops and lines of a grade school copybook.

FORBES: Scratch pads

Mr. Obama has a copybook agenda, to expand government regardless of the historical moment the country finds itself in.

WSJ: Jenkins: Lost Decade, Revisited

The only blot on his copybook was an arrest for using heroin in the mid 60s, which forced him to kick the habit.

BBC: Ray Charles gig worth the wait

Only bogeys at the third and the 10th blotted his copybook.

BBC: Harrington hits the front

It was a torn sheet of copybook paper the kind that his agency distributed to schools around Iraq, with date and subject lines printed in English and Arabic.

NEWYORKER: Betrayed

Refco is not the only recent blot on its copybook.

ECONOMIST: Austrian banks

Against the run of play, the Republic pulled a goal back on 72 as Keane slotted a penalty after Shirokov had blotted his copybook with a needless challenge on the Republic skipper.

BBC: Republic of Ireland 2-3 Russia

Michael Meehan's point cut Donegal's lead to one after the outstanding Karl Lacey had blotted his copybook by conceding a hop ball for retaliation after Nicky Joyce's dreadful neck-high challenge on Barry Dunnion.

BBC: Sean Armstrong and Frank McGlynn

But the England fly-half blotted his copybook moments later when his kick from hand rolled through the in-goal area, handing Blues their best field position of the match back from where the kick was taken.

BBC: Cardiff Blues 28-21 Toulon

There was still time in the final few minutes for Messi to slightly blot his copybook by allowing Enyeama to save from six yards when he should have scored but it is harsh to take away from what was a superb display from the forward and an encouraging victory for Maradona's men.

BBC: Argentina 1-0 Nigeria