How do you use "mess" in a sentence?

Sorry about the mess – I haven't had time to tidy up. The project is a complete mess and needs reorganising. Stop messing about and get on with your homework!

mess

Vocabulary Word BritishAmerican ★★★☆☆ Moderate Neutral

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Meaning: A dirty or untidy state; a difficult or confused situation; or a room where soldiers eat

混乱，麻烦

desorden, lío

散らかり、混乱

엉망, 혼란

Mess commonly means a state of disorder or untidiness ('the room was a mess') or a difficult, confused situation ('what a mess!'). In military contexts, 'the mess' or 'mess hall' is where soldiers eat. 'To mess up' means to make mistakes or cause problems. 'Mess about/around' means to waste time or behave foolishly.

「mess」通常指混乱或不整洁的状态（'the room was a mess'房间一团糟）或困难、混乱的情况（'what a mess!'真是一团糟！）。在军事语境中，'the mess'或'mess hall'是士兵就餐的地方。'To mess up'意为犯错或制造问题。'Mess about/around'意为浪费时间或行为愚蠢。

«Mess» comúnmente significa un estado de desorden («the room was a mess») o una situación difícil y confusa («what a mess!»). En contextos militares, «the mess» o «mess hall» es donde comen los soldados. «To mess up» significa cometer errores o causar problemas. «Mess about/around» significa perder el tiempo o comportarse tontamente.

「mess」は一般的に、散らかった状態（「the room was a mess」部屋が散らかっていた）や困難で混乱した状況（「what a mess!」なんて混乱だ！）を意味します。軍事的な文脈では「the mess」や「mess hall」は兵士が食事をする場所です。「To mess up」はミスをしたり問題を起こしたりすることを意味します。「Mess about/around」は時間を無駄にしたり愚かな行動をしたりすることを意味します。

Mess는 흔히 무질서하거나 지저분한 상태('방이 엉망이다')나 어렵고 혼란스러운 상황('정말 엉망이군!')을 뜻합니다. 군사 용어로 'the mess' 또는 'mess hall'은 군인들이 식사하는 곳입니다. 'To mess up'은 실수하거나 문제를 일으키다, 'mess about/around'는 시간을 낭비하거나 어리석게 행동하다라는 뜻입니다.

Examples

Sorry about the mess – I haven't had time to tidy up.
抱歉这么乱——我还没来得及收拾。
Perdona el desorden – no he tenido tiempo de ordenar.
散らかっていてすみません。片付ける時間がありませんでした。
어질러져 있어서 죄송합니다. 정리할 시간이 없었어요.
The project is a complete mess and needs reorganising.
这个项目一团糟，需要重新整理。
El proyecto es un completo desastre y necesita reorganización.
このプロジェクトは完全に混乱していて、再編成が必要です。
이 프로젝트는 완전히 엉망이라서 재정비가 필요합니다.
Stop messing about and get on with your homework!
别再浪费时间了，快去做作业！
¡Deja de hacer el tonto y ponte con tus deberes!
ふざけるのをやめて、宿題を続けなさい！
장난 그만 치고 숙제 해!

Pronunciation

Usage Guide

Context: general

Tone: neutral

Origin & History

From Old French 'mes' meaning 'a portion of food, a course at dinner', from Late Latin 'missus' (a course, a placing), from Latin 'mittere' (to send, put). Originally 'a serving of food'; the 'disorder' sense came from messy eating.

Cultural Context

Era: Modern

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal

Story & Trivia

The military meaning of 'mess' (dining hall) comes from Old French 'mes' meaning a portion of food. Officers would eat together in 'messes' – hence the term survived in military contexts long after it disappeared from civilian use.