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make a mess of

phrase

: to ruin (something) or make many mistakes in doing (something)
I made a mess of my speech.

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make a mental note
make a mess of
make a monkey out of
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Cite this Entry

“Make a mess of.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/make%20a%20mess%20of. Accessed 21 Dec. 2025.

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Last Updated: - Definition revised
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