in a skelter
- idiom
- UK
:
en un caos
- The children rushed about the playground in a skelter, laughter echoing in the air.
Examples
-
Before the performance, the backstage area was in a skelter of last-minute preparations.
-
Papers flew in a skelter as the wind swept through the open window.
-
The kids were in a skelter!
-
Don't leave your things in a skelter!
-
Before the performance, the backstage area was in a skelter of last-minute preparations.
-
Papers flew in a skelter as the wind swept through the open window.
-
The children rushed about the playground in a skelter, laughter echoing in the air.
Synonyms
∞
1.0
A situation in which things are untidy and confused
283
4.8
In a confused, disorganized way with things or thoughts scattered
116
4.7
Not organized and full of confusion
18
1.0
Messy and not in order, with things mixed up
9
5.0
A confused, disorganized situation where things are not in order
9
9.9
Messy and not organized
9
1.6
Something that is untidy and not in order
7
4.5
Not arranged in a clear or tidy way
4
4.5
A place or thing that is untidy and not in order
2
9.0
In a confused, hurried way
1
5.6
In a wild, disordered way
1
8.2
A sudden state of confusion and panic that makes someone lose control
1
7.5
Mixed up and in a messy, confused state
1
7.3
In a confused, messy way with no order
1
8.7
Very badly organized and causing confusion
1
4.0
In a way that shows you are not sure or do not understand
1
9.9
A confused, disorganized state where people do not know what to do
1
9.9
In a messy, mixed-up way with things in no order
1
5.5
A place or situation that is very messy and out of order
In a hurried, confused way
With much hurry and disorder
Being confused and disorganized
In a messy, disorganized way
Everywhere in a hurried, messy way like people searching quickly
To fall down suddenly into a messy pile
In a messy, untidy way
Mixed together in a confused and untidy way
A confused, messy situation when plans go wrong
A confused, messy situation where plans go wrong
In a confused and disorganized state
Antonyms
How Chaotic
Surface Forms
Morphology
The meaning is partially derivable because 'skelter' conveys 'hastily/chaotically', so 'in a skelter' can be interpreted as 'in a state of disorder' if a learner knows the constituents. However, the construction is unusual (an article with a form usually treated as an adverb), the item is low-frequency/archaic and linked to the compound 'helter-skelter', so the exact grammatical interpretation and usage are not fully predictable without prior exposure.
Etymology
In a skelter may come from the older saying helter-skelter, which paints a picture of people running down a hill or stairs with no order, tumbling and pushing. So, that wild image explains why in a skelter means 'in a state of chaos' or 'in a hurried way'.