Messed things up by putting a bribe on the table first (7)
I believe the answer is:
bungled
'messed things up by' is the definition.
I can't tell whether this definition defines the answer.
'a bribe on the table first' is the wordplay.
'a bribe' becomes 'bung' (I've seen this before).
'on' is a charade indicator (letters next to each other).
'the table first' becomes 'led' (I can't justify this - if you can you should believe this answer much more).
'bung'+'led'='BUNGLED'
'putting' acts as a link.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for bungled that I've seen before include "Slipped up there" , "mismanaged" , "Spoiled through incompetence" .)