mess

Examples

• All

• The soldiers gathered in the mess hall for their afternoon meal.

• That's the mess hall and the officers' club.

  Flyboys (2006)

• "Some hot day," I said, standing in the mess that was his camp.

  Fiction book (2002)

• Are you the new boss down at the Mess?

  Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire (2024)

• Anyone wanna join me in the mess?

  Bloodsuckers (2005)

• Andrew returned to the officers' mess, and he could see that the men were waiting for him.

  Fiction book (1990)

• Over there is the mess tent.

  Fortress (2012)

• I'm a bachelor, and in those days, the mess was my home.

  Fiction book (2000)

• Outside the sergeant's mess, there is a freshly painted circle.

  Terry Stone Connection

• In the army-green womb of the mess tent, I poured myself a mug of steaming-hot coffee.

  Fiction book (2002)

Synonyms

M

mess hall

vsmess

• Jargon

27 3.4

A large room where people in the military eat

is often smaller and used for socialising as well as eating

C

canteen

vsmess

• UK

14 2.4

A place in a school or workplace where people buy and eat food and talk to others

is specifically military and focused on shared eating and socialising

O

officer's mess

vsmess

• Jargon

1 6.9

A dining room for military officers to eat and meet

is the common military dining place open to all ranks

M

messroom

vsmess

• UK

3.7

A room where people in the military eat meals together

includes socializing as well as eating in a military setting

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