Mess meaning in English

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Definition

a mess: disorder, chaos, untidiness noun
Please clean up your room, it's a real mess! I've never seen a room so untidy.
to mess up: to make untidy, to create disorder; to spoil, to damage verb
The painters messed up the kitchen! It's so dirty and untidy now.
In a figurative sense:
Sorry, I messed up. I did everything wrong!
messy: untidy, chaotic adjective

Examples

  • "They've made a terrible mess!"
  • "But I'm warning you Horatio, if this thing goes south, I am not going to be the one cleaning up the mess."
  • "Philip : There's no way I'm going to ruin my $500 shoes cleaning up this mess."
  • "Philip : There's no way I'm going to ruin my shoes cleaning up this mess."
  • "I want a record of all the comings and goings of the people who use the meeting room. I want to find out who's causing the mess!"
  • "As an accountant, I deal with many papers, and I fear that my office would become a real mess without the presence of a stapler."
  • "The day after the accident, you told me that since you had caused this mess, you would be following up promptly and would keep me posted on developments."
  • "Please excuse the mess, we had a party last night."
  • "I hope this was okay, I didn't want to add to the mess."
  • "Clean up your mess"
  • "Things might get messy."
  • "Sorry about the mess in this meeting room. As I suggested in our telephone conversation last week, I'm going to need some convincing that your site is suitable to sell our products."
  • "The group, led by twin brothers Desmond and Brian Jones, is back together after a messy break-up nearly 20 years ago."
  • "The Delavigne laboratory is a mess however, and I'm sure that Horatio keeps very bad records of his lab results."
Exercise 1
Icarus is concerned that his office will become a mess without a stapler.

In this context, what is a "mess"?
Icarus is concerned that his office will become a mess without a stapler.

In this context, what is a "mess"?
Icarus isn't concerned that his office will become "unfriendly" or "hostile". Icarus is concerned that his office will become disorganized without a stapler.
Icarus isn't concerned that his office will become "an unacceptable place". Icarus is concerned that his office will become disorganized without a stapler.
This is the best choice. Icarus is concerned that his office would become a mess without a stapler, which means that he doesn't want his office to become "disorganized" or "disorderly". Order is very important to Icarus.
This is a good guess, but a "mess" refers to something "dirty", "disorganized" or "disorderly", and does not indicate something "unproductive". However, having a messy office can lead to an unproductive work environment,
Exercise 2
What does Fiona think of Horatio's productivity in his workspace?
What does Fiona think of Horatio's productivity in his workspace?
Fiona writes that in normal situations, the "mess" (or disorder) in Horatio's office would discourage productivity, "but Horatio works remarkably well in the chaotic workspace". To "thrive" means to "flourish", prosper or to "make progress". The expression to "thrive amid (chaos)" is usually used to talk about someone "prospering in an otherwise negative environment".
Fiona writes that Horatio's workspace is "chaotic" but that his work is very productive.
In fact, Fiona writes the opposite: that a lack of organization discourages productivity, yet Horatio is able to be very productive without any organization. Horatio is productive despite his poor organization.
Fiona is actually expressing the idea that it is remarkable that Horatio succeeds at working well in this particular working environment.
Exercise 3
Select the TRUE statement(s) from the list below, according to Edward's advert.

There may be more than one correct answer!
Select the TRUE statement(s) from the list below, according to Edward's advert.

There may be more than one correct answer!
This is a false statement. Edward tells us that he "already live(s) in a studio apartment in the city", meaning that he already has a home in San Francisco, but is looking for a nicer, bigger one!
This is a false statement. Edward writes that he is "single". In this context, "single" means unmarried, or without a romantic partner. Edward does not have a "wife". Example: "Please will you introduce me to some of your single friends? I'm lonely".
This statement is false. Edward describes himself as "clean and tidy". This means that he is neat, organised, and has good levels of hygiene. He is therefore the opposite of "messy".
This is the only true statement here. In his advert, Edward writes that "outside space would be a bonus". A "bonus" is an "advantage" in this context. "Outside space" is an area which is in the open air, such as a garden or yard.
Exercise 4
Let's find some terms used in the dialogue!

First, we're looking for an expression meaning "please wait for a moment" or "hold on":
- Can I come in?
- , I'm naked! Let me put some clothes on first please! (THREE WORDS)

Now find the term which means an "untidy" or "dirty" state:
I want you to tidy up the in your room before grandma comes to visit.
Let's find some terms used in the dialogue!

First, we're looking for an expression meaning "please wait for a moment" or "hold on":
- Can I come in?
- Just a minute 1, I'm naked! Let me put some clothes on first please! (THREE WORDS)

Now find the term which means an "untidy" or "dirty" state:
I want you to tidy up the mess 2 in your room before grandma comes to visit.
1 Just a minute: "Just a minute" is the right answer. We use this expression to ask someone to "wait for a moment". Another example: "-Mum, I want an ice cream! -Just a minute darling, I'm busy". Note that Stacey also says "just a second", and this would be another appropriate choice here.
2 mess: "Mess" is the term we were looking for here. A "mess" is an "untidy state" or a "dirty condition". Note that there is a related adjective: "messy". Here's another example: "-Clean up the mess in this office! -Oh calm down, it's not that messy".
Exercise 5
Complete the following sentences to accurately summarize this scene.

Icarus is upset because .
is/are responsible for Icarus' problem.
True or false? Hannah refuses to help Icarus with his problem. --> .
Complete the following sentences to accurately summarize this scene.

Icarus is upset because his office is disorganized and dirty 1.
Philip and Samantha 2 is/are responsible for Icarus' problem.
True or false? Hannah refuses to help Icarus with his problem. --> False 3.
1 his office is disorganized and dirty: This is the correct answer. Icarus is distressed because Philip has made a "mess" of his office during a "training session" with Samantha, a new salesperson. "A mess" refers to a dirty, disorganized place.
1 he is behind schedule in his paperwork: This is not the correct answer. Although Icarus' papers are no longer organized correctly, he is not upset because he is "behind schedule" his paperwork, or late in completing his work.
1 Hannah has interrupted his work: This is not the correct answer. Icarus is not frustrated because Hannah has interrupted him. Hannah actually volunteers to help Icarus organize his office.
2 Philip and Samantha: This is the best answer. Icarus tells Hannah that Philip Cheeter is responsible for the mess in his office. It was an intense training session with a new saleswoman named Samantha which resulted in the disorganization in the office.
2 Hannah Benedict: This is not the correct answer. Hannah is not responsible for the mess in Icarus' office. She actually helps to clean up.
2 An elephant: This is incorrect. Elephants do generally cause messes in offices, however no elephants contributed to this personal mess.
3 False: This statement is false. Hannah offers to help Icarus reorganize his office.
3 True: This statement is not true.

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