make a mess

Meaning

This phrase means to cause a place or thing to become dirty, untidy, or disorganized. It can also be used metaphorically to describe creating a confusing or problematic situation, though the physical meaning is most common.

Examples

• The kids made a huge mess in the living room with their toys.

  The kids made a huge mess in the living room with their toys.

• Be careful not to make a mess while you are painting the kitchen.

  Be careful not to make a mess while you are painting the kitchen.

• My dog always makes a mess around his food bowl.

  My dog always makes a mess around his food bowl.

• I made a mess of the kitchen when I tried to bake a cake.

  I made a mess of the kitchen when I tried to bake a cake.

• Please clean up your desk; you've made quite a mess here.

  Please clean up your desk; you've made quite a mess here.

Common Mistakes

• ✗ Don't do a mess in your bedroom.

  ✓ Don't make a mess in your bedroom.

  In English, we always use the verb 'make' with 'mess', never 'do'.

• ✗ The children made mess in the garden.

  ✓ The children made a mess in the garden.

  In this idiom, 'mess' is a countable noun, so you need the indefinite article 'a'.

Related Expressions

Practice

• The puppy always ___ when it plays in the mud.

  💡 Use the present simple form for a singular subject.

  Show answer

  makes a mess

• I promise not to ___ while I cook dinner.

  💡 Use the base form after 'to'.

  Show answer

  make a mess