mess

B1 · Intermediate Countable noun

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.

“The company's finances are in a real mess after the recent scandal.”

“The legal team spent months trying to untangle the mess created by the previous administration's conflicting policies.”

B2 · Upper Intermediate Countable noun

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.

“The officers gathered in the mess for dinner at six o'clock.”

“Discussions in the officers' mess were strictly informal, allowing for a degree of socialising outside the rigid hierarchy of the base.”

B2 · Upper Intermediate Countable noun Informal

n. someone who is very upset or confused and cannot think clearly.

n. a person in a state of severe emotional or mental distress.

“I was a total mess after I lost my job and my car broke down.”

“She was an absolute mess during the first week of the divorce proceedings, struggling to maintain her professional composure.”

B1 · Intermediate

v. to make something dirty or untidy.

v. to cause a state of disorder or dirtiness; often used with the particle 'up'.

“Don't mess the floor with your muddy boots.”

“The wind quickly messed her hair as soon as she stepped out of the salon onto the street.”

B2 · Upper Intermediate Informal

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.

“You shouldn't mess with the settings on my computer.”

“The technician warned the staff not to mess with the wiring until the safety inspection was complete.”