mess

Examples

• All

• Farmers to report to mess hall immediately.

  Alien: Romulus (2024)

• After a long day, the soldiers gathered in the mess for their evening meal.

• You eat mess hall food all day.

  A Journal for Jordan (2021)

• -Sir, I took it from the mess hall, sir.

  Full Metal Jacket (1987)

• We're going to the officers' mess for dinner.

  A Foreign Affair (1948)

• I followed a group of prisoners to the mess hall and took my position in line.

  Academic text (2005)

• In addition, you have been seen frequenting the base exchange, the mess hall, and Jordan.

  Fiction book (1997)

• All around the mess hall, officers are laughing and banging on tables.

  Fiction book (2002)

• I believe you also consumed Romulan ale at the officers' mess on the night in question, Doctor?

  Fiction book (1991)

• The cafeteria, known as the mess, served hearty dishes to all personnel.

Idioms

I

in a mess

9 1.6

Something that is untidy and not in order

O

one hell of a mess

• NSFW

2 8.4

A very large, messy situation that is hard to fix

M

mess of pottage

• Archaic

1 9.9

A small thing of little value taken instead of something better

U

to untangle this mess

1 5.5

To make a confusing or difficult situation clear

S

to sell your birthright for a mess of pottage

9.9

To give up something very important for a small, quick gain

Compounds

M

mess hall

• Jargon

27 3.4

A large room where people in the military eat

M

mess-up

• Informal

9 5.1

A situation that is badly organized and full of mistakes

M

mess kit

2 3.9

A set of metal plates, cups, and spoons that soldiers or campers use to eat outdoors

O

officer's mess

• Jargon

1 6.9

A dining room for military officers to eat and meet

S

sticky mess

• Informal

1 5.5

A difficult, unpleasant situation that is hard to fix

O

oily mess

1 3.7

A dirty, greasy stain or spill that is hard to clean

M

mess of wires

3.4

A tangled group of cables that looks untidy

M

mess jacket

• Jargon

8.4

Short jacket worn by military officers at formal dinners

W

widdle mess

• Baby Talk

9.9

A small untidy area made by a child or pet

Surface Forms

Etymology