English Explanatory Dictionary

mare's nest

English dictionary entry

Meanings

noun
  1. A great discovery which turns out to be illusory; especially, a hoax.
  2. A confused or complicated situation; a muddle.

Pronunciation

/ˈmɛːz nɛst/ en-au-mare's nest.ogg

Word forms

mare's nest mare's nests mares' nests

Etymology

Alteration of earlier horse's nest, from the fanciful and unlikely notion that horses make nests.

Synonyms

bullshit horseshit rat's nest

Related words

blinker fluid muffler bearing fool's gold hen's tooth rocking horse shit snark
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