shambles

British  

/ ˈʃæmbəlz /

noun

1. a place of great disorder

   the room was a shambles after the party

2. a place where animals are brought to be slaughtered

3. any place of slaughter or carnage

4. dialect a row of covered stalls or shops where goods, originally meat, are sold

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Etymology

Origin of shambles

C14 shamble table used by meat vendors, from Old English sceamel stool, from Late Latin scamellum a small bench, from Latin scamnum stool

Example Sentences

That job would be short-lived after he reported Indonesia’s economy was in shambles and the country’s enraged leadership threw him out.

From Los Angeles Times

The care given to a 45-year-old man with disabilities who died from sepsis after not being given the correct medication for 34 hours has been described as a "shambles" by his mother.

From BBC

This latest shambles against the Springboks might well strengthen the WRU's hand that something has to be done.

From BBC

The Office for Budget Responsibility prematurely published key budget details, causing a “serious error” and “complete shambles” in Parliament.

From Barron's

Firefighters arrived to find a home in shambles, with walls collapsed, windows blown out and parts still aflame.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• disarray