hot mess

plural hot messes

1. countableuncountablegovernmentA warm meal, usually cooked in a large pot, often similar to a stew or porridge; service of such a heated meal to soldiers.

   He provided for a hot mess and he got the men up off the floor with improvised bunks.

   1974, Langdon Sully, No Tears for the General: The Life of Alfred Sully, 1821-1879, page 119

   4 more examples

   "Smallbones," said the lieutenant, after trying the hot mess before him, and finding that he was still in danger of burning his mouth, "bring me the red-herring."

   1836 April 29, Frederick Marryat, “Snarleyyow, or the Dog Fiend”, in Arkansas Advocate, volume vii, number 4, Little Rock, AR, page 1

   1 lb. pemican; ¼ lb. pork; ¾ lb. biscuit; ¼ lb flour or bread dust, to mix with pemican into a hot mess;

   1852 January 1, F. L. McClintock, “Lieutenant McClintock to Mr. Fegn, Secretary of the Arctic Committee”, in Morning Post, number 24355, London, page 3

   I heard several of the enlisted men make the statement that Company C had provided hot mess for fully a thousand men of other units during the second day of the recent drive in and around Cheppy and Charpentry.

   1919, James Thayer Addison, The Story of the First Gas Regiment, page 150

   The men there would have settled for a Coleman stove and a hot-mess line, but the greatest contribution to their spirits, plus or minus, was mail call.

   1980, William Manchester, Goodbye, Darkness: A Memoir of the Pacific War, page 260

plural hot messes

1. USinformalA situation or object in a state of extreme disarray.

   The politician's in a hot mess since the women got the vote -- his wife threatened not to vote for his candidate unless he wipes the dishes.

   1919 November 13, “The Periscope”, in Camden Post-Telegram, number 8134, Camden, NJ, page 5

   1 more example

   We’re a hot mess, this bad-tempered country of ours. More than 40 percent of Republicans are slouching toward full-blown autocracy, favorably disposed, in one poll, toward a presidency unfettered by constitutional checks and balances.

   2019 December 6, Timothy Egan, “America the Hot Mess”, in The New York Times, →ISSN

   Synonyms: train wreck, car crash, dumpster fire, shit show

2. USinformalA disheveled or unbalanced person, particularly one who is nevertheless, or therefore, attractive.

   My hair had two months of roots exposed. My brows were overgrown. I was a hot mess. And I was fat.

   2003, Karyn Bosnak, Save Karyn: One Shopaholic's Journey to Debt and Back, page 271

   2 more examples

   "Girl, you're a hot mess, but we're cool," she assured her, but her next words were a warning. "But you really need to stop blurting out the first thing that comes to your mind..."

   2005, Desiree Day, Crazy Love, page 72

   Well, you're a hot mess and I'm falling for you, and I'm like hot damn, let me make you my boo, […] You're a hot mess, I'm loving it, hell yes!

   2009, Cobra Starship, Hot Mess (song on the album Hot Mess)

3. Southern USinformalobsoleteTrouble.

   I'm in a hot mess.