a hot mess

a hot mess

1. Any situation or thing that is in an abject state of disorder, disarray, or chaos. Primarily heard in US. This film is just a hot mess—the plot doesn't make sense, the acting is terrible, and it's edited so poorly that I can barely tell what's even happening on the screen.
2. A person who is disheveled or disordered in life, manner, or appearance. Primarily heard in US. I overslept, so I came into work looking like a hot mess. I think I may have been wearing mismatched socks.
See also: hot, mess
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.
See also:
  • between the jigs and the reels
  • reel
  • fine kettle of fish
  • a pretty kettle of fish
  • Bondi
  • and no messing
  • go off the rails
  • be off the rails
  • off the rails
References in periodicals archive
"This girl was a hot mess.  So here we are in time where so much is going on, and Clive and Ravi really need Liv to be on top of things, but hot mess DJ-brain Liv can't keep it together."
'iZombie': Major Is Human Again In Episode 6 Featurette [VIDEO]
Liv (Rose McIver) becomes a hot mess in Season 3, episode 6 of "iZombie."
'iZombie' Spoilers: Liv Becomes A Hot Mess In Episode 6