plural mare's nests or mares' nests
Definition of mare's nest
1
: a false discovery, illusion, or deliberate hoax
2
: a place, condition, or situation of great disorder or confusion
a mare's nest of intrigue and troubles with the money men— William Cole
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Merriam-Webster unabridged
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Time Traveler for mare's nest
The first known use of mare's nest was in 1576
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