shambles
[ˈʃæmbl̩z]
A shambles is a state of complete mess or disorganization.
You might see this word used when describing a place that's been left untouched for too long. Imagine a house after a big move - furniture scattered everywhere, boxes still open, and clothes strewn about like they're having their own party. That's a great example of what people mean by a shambles. They might say "The room is in a terrible shambles" to describe the chaos.
How common is "shambles"?
Word shambles is considered rare in modern English.
It has a balanced usage among all categories: speech, fiction, newspapers and academic texts.
It has a balanced usage among all categories: speech, fiction, newspapers and academic texts.
Definitions
verb
To walk while shuffling or dragging the feet.
Example: I wasn't too impressed with the fellow, when he shambled in unenthusiastically and an hour late.
shuffle
noun
Work done in a poor fashion
Real examples of "shambles" in context
