Idiom
dog's dinner
Meanings
Something that is messy, untidy, or badly organized.
A piece of work or a plan that has been done very badly and is full of mistakes.
Definition
A dog's dinner is something that is very messy, badly done, or in a terrible state.
A dog's dinner is a British English idiom used to describe something that looks a mess or has been done very badly. It often refers to an untidy appearance, a disorganized room, or a project with lots of mistakes. People use it informally, sometimes with mild criticism or humour.
Examples
- My hair looks like a dog's dinner after the wind and rain.
- I tried to fix the shelf, but I made a dog's dinner of it.
- After the party, the kitchen was a dog's dinner.
- Their presentation was a dog's dinner, with slides out of order and missing figures.
Common mistake
Learners often use it to mean "a delicious meal," but it actually means something messy or badly done.
More at B2 level
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- ballpark figure A ballpark figure is an approximate number or estimate, not an exact one.
- take the mickey To take the mickey means to mock someone or tease them in an unkind or cheeky way.
- cheap as chips Very cheap; costing very little money.
More noun phrase (idiom)s
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