Meaning of hot mess | Babel Free

Definitions

1. A warm meal, usually cooked in a large pot, often similar to a stew or porridge; service of such a heated meal to soldiers.
   countable, uncountable
2. A situation or object in a state of extreme disarray.
   US, informal
3. A disheveled or unbalanced person, particularly one who is nevertheless, or therefore, attractive.
   US, informal
4. Trouble.
   Southern-US, informal, obsolete

Equivalents

Examples

“"Smallbones," said the lieutenant, after trying the hot mess before him, and finding that he was still in danger of burning his mouth, "bring me the red-herring."”

“1 lb. pemican; ¼ lb. pork; ¾ lb. biscuit; ¼ lb flour or bread dust, to mix with pemican into a hot mess;”

“I heard several of the enlisted men make the statement that Company C had provided hot mess for fully a thousand men of other units during the second day of the recent drive in and around Cheppy and Charpentry.”

“He provided for a hot mess and he got the men up off the floor with improvised bunks.”

“The men there would have settled for a Coleman stove and a hot-mess line, but the greatest contribution to their spirits, plus or minus, was mail call.”

“The politician's in a hot mess since the women got the vote -- his wife threatened not to vote for his candidate unless he wipes the dishes.”

“We’re a hot mess, this bad-tempered country of ours. More than 40 percent of Republicans are slouching toward full-blown autocracy, favorably disposed, in one poll, toward a presidency unfettered by constitutional checks and balances.”

“My hair had two months of roots exposed. My brows were overgrown. I was a hot mess. And I was fat.”

“"Girl, you're a hot mess, but we're cool," she assured her, but her next words were a warning. "But you really need to stop blurting out the first thing that comes to your mind..."”

“Well, you're a hot mess and I'm falling for you, and I'm like hot damn, let me make you my boo, […] You're a hot mess, I'm loving it, hell yes!”

“I'm in a hot mess.”

CEFR level