addled, muddled – Addled refers to mental confusion; muddled is anything confused or in a mess. More…
dog’s breakfast, dog’s dinner – Meaning a mess or muddle, a dog’s breakfast or dog’s dinner originally may have referred to a cooking mishap with results fit only for a dog’s consumption. More…
higgledy-piggledy – Probably formed from pig and the animal’s suggestions of mess and disorder. More…
kettle of fish – Meaning “mess, muddle,” the phrase is from “a pretty kettle of fish,” a corruption of “kiddle of fish,” in which a kiddle is a basket set in the opening of a weir for catching fish. More…