Useful English Word or Phrase to Boost Your English: Shambles

Quick summary: A British word for total chaos, disorder, or a badly organised mess.

What does it mean?

A shambles is a situation, place, or event that is a total mess — disorganised, chaotic, or badly handled from start to finish.

Is it positive or negative?

Negative. It's a strong criticism of how badly something was organised or handled.

When do you use it?

Use it when an event, plan, or system has gone wrong in an obvious, embarrassing way.

Examples

Example 1: The wedding was a shambles — the caterers never turned up.

Example 2: Traffic today was an absolute shambles.

Question for you

What's the biggest shambles you've ever witnessed?

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