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Definition mess in British English

mess noun

noun
/mes/

The phrase another fine (or nice) mess you’ve gotten me into was often used by the US actor Oliver Hardy to his partner Stan Laurel in a series of comedy films they made together in the 1920s and 1930s. People sometimes use this phrase humorously when they are in a difficult situation, especially when they want to blame someone for it.

▪ awful, complete, fine, real, right, sorry, terrible, total

1

a situation in which a place is dirty or untidy

Example

Your room is a mess; please pick up your toys.

Example

'What a mess!' she said, looking at the kitchen.

Example

Try not to make a mess because I've been cleaning.

Example

His papers were in a terrible mess.

Synonyms and related words
omnishambles mess chaos
1.1

something that has been accidentally dropped or carelessly left, so that it makes a place look dirty

Example

I cleaned up the mess with a napkin.

Example

There was a sticky mess on the kitchen floor.

Synonyms and related words
dirt dust grime
1.2

someone or something that looks dirty, untidy, or in bad condition

Example

Look at you - you're a mess!

Example

Mark's jeans were a mess by the time he finished painting.

Synonyms and related words
omnishambles mess chaos
2

a difficult situation with a lot of problems, especially because people have made mistakes

Example

an economic mess

Example

The company was in a complete mess when she took over.

Example

I don't know how we got into this mess.

Example

You got me into this mess in the first place.

Synonyms and related words
crisis battle nightmare
3

someone who is so nervous or who has so many problems that they cannot have a normal life

Example

I was a complete mess after the divorce.

Synonyms and related words
nebbish the worried well worrier
4

a room where people have their meals in the armed forces

Synonyms and related words
base billet detail
5

solid waste from an animal

Synonyms and related words
cowpat crap dog dirt
Definition mess in British English