mess

Definition

a thing or group of things in a disagreeable, disorganised, or dirty state; hence a bad situation

Etymology

Perhaps a corruption of Middle English mesh (“mash”), compare muss, or derived from Etymology 2 "mixed foods, as for animals". Compare also Old English mes (“dung, excrement”).

Example Sentences

• "No, look, I know that the place looks like a bit of a mess but it's actually a very delicate ecosystem. Everything is connected. It's like the rainforest. You change one thing, even the tiniest bit, and the whooole rainforest dies. You don't want the rainforest to die, do ya?"
• "He made a mess of it."
• "My bedroom is such a mess; I need to tidy up."