Meaning of mare's nest | Babel Free

Definitions

1. A great discovery which turns out to be illusory; especially, a hoax.
   figuratively
2. A confused or complicated situation; a muddle.
   figuratively

Examples

“Near-synonyms: bullshit, horseshit”

“Why dost thou laugh? What Mares nest hast thou found?”

““Rubbish!” cried Lawrence angrily. “In my opinion the whole thing is a mare’s nest of Bauerstein’s! Wilkins hadn’t an idea of such a thing, until Bauerstein put it into his head. But, like all specialists, Bauerstein’s got a bee in his bonnet. Poisons are his hobby, so of course he sees them everywhere.””

“Though Chancellor Maupeou had supported the idea of a trial [...], the legal proceedings developed into a mare's nest of accusations and counter-accusations.”

CEFR level