# state of affairs

idiom

Source: https://englishreference.com/idiom/state-of-affairs
Updated: 2026-08-10

## Meaning

A specific situation; a set of circumstances.

## Examples

- This is a bad state of affairs for the team.
- The manager was shocked by the current state of affairs and demanded an immediate explanation from the staff.
- Given the volatile state of affairs in the global market, the investors decided to postpone their expansion plans until the situation stabilized.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.