rat's nest
Something that is excessively complicated, entangled, or disorderly (either physically or metaphorically).
Meaning adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
“My desk drawer is a total rat's nest of tangled cables.”
“The legal contract was such a rat's nest of confusing clauses that we had to hire a lawyer to explain it.”
“After years of poor management, the company's financial records had become a complete rat's nest that took months for the auditors to untangle.”
- 01
feather one's nest
To achieve benefits, especially financial ones, by taking advantage of the opportunities with which one is presented; to amass a comfortable amount of personal wealth; especially, to do so to a degree that involves venality.
- 02
give a rat's arse
To care a minimum amount; to have or show minimal interest
- 03
hurrah's nest
pandemonium (state of chaos and confusion).
- 04
lab rat
A student or employee who spends a great deal of time working in a laboratory.
- 05
leave the nest
To leave home; to stop living with one's parents.
- 06
love nest
A residence, especially a condominium or cabin, where a couple (particularly a newly cohabiting or married couple) can enjoy each other's company.
- 07
poor as a rat
Synonym of poor as a church mouse.
- 08
rat run
A small, usually minor road used by a significant amount of traffic as a short cut or to avoid congestion on more major routes.
Last updated August 10, 2026