mess
- 01 A2 Elementary
n.a dirty or untidy state where things are not in their proper places.
n.a state of physical disorder, dirtiness, or lack of organisation.
Simple“The kids left a huge mess in the living room after playing with their toys.”
In context“The construction crew left a significant mess on the site, with debris and discarded materials scattered across the lawn.”
PitfallI made a mess in the kitchen. I made a mess of the kitchen.Use 'of' to indicate the place or thing that was made untidy.
- 02 B1 Intermediate
n.a difficult or confused situation that is hard to solve.
n.a state of confusion or difficulty, often resulting from mismanagement or poor decisions.
Simple“The company's finances are in a real mess after the recent scandal.”
In context“The legal team spent months trying to untangle the mess created by the previous administration's conflicting policies.”
Synonyms - 03 B2 Upper Intermediate
n.a place where people in the military eat together.
n.a communal dining room or building, specifically for military personnel or members of a similar organisation.
Simple“The officers gathered in the mess for dinner at six o'clock.”
In context“Discussions in the officers' mess were strictly informal, allowing for a degree of socialising outside the rigid hierarchy of the base.”
Synonymscanteenrefectory - 04 B2 Upper Intermediate
n.someone who is very upset or confused and cannot think clearly.
n.a person in a state of severe emotional or mental distress.
Simple“I was a total mess after I lost my job and my car broke down.”
In context“She was an absolute mess during the first week of the divorce proceedings, struggling to maintain her professional composure.”
Synonyms - 05 B1 Intermediate
v.to make something dirty or untidy.
v.to cause a state of disorder or dirtiness; often used with the particle 'up'.
Simple“Don't mess the floor with your muddy boots.”
In context“The wind quickly messed her hair as soon as she stepped out of the salon onto the street.”
UsageOften used as the phrasal verb 'mess up'.
- 06 B2 Upper Intermediate
v.to interfere with something or try to change it when you should not.
v.to interfere or meddle with something, typically in a way that causes damage or confusion.
Simple“You shouldn't mess with the settings on my computer.”
In context“The technician warned the staff not to mess with the wiring until the safety inspection was complete.”
UsageUsually takes the preposition 'with'.
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”).
From Middle English mes, partly from Old English mēse, mēose (“table”), a vernacular loan from Latin/Late Latin mē(n)sa (“table; meal”); and partly from Old French mes, Late Latin missum, from mittō (“to put, place (e.g. on the table)”). See mission, and compare Mass (“religious service”).
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.