shambles
Translation
shambles, mess, disorder
Examples
The room was in a shambles.
The room was in a shambles.
His life was a complete shambles.
His life was a complete shambles.
Grammar Patterns
to be in a shambles The room was in a shambles.
Similar Words
Synonyms: mess, chaos, disorder, wreck
Etymology
Originally meant a meat market or slaughterhouse. The sense of a 'messy scene' came from this image.
Memory Tips
Picture an old, messy butcher's shop ('shambles') to remember the meaning of 'a total mess'.