mare's nest

English

1899 Welsh cartoon using the phrase mare's nest.

Etymology

From mare's + nest. Compare horse-nest.

Pronunciation

• (UK) IPA: /ˈmɛːz nɛst/

Noun

mare's nest (plural mare's nests)

1. A great discovery which turns out to be illusory; a hoax.
   • c. 1620, John Fletcher, Bonduca, V.2:

     Why dost thou laugh? What Mares nest hast thou found?

2. A confused or complicated situation; a muddle.
   • 2002, Colin Jones, The Great Nation, Penguin 2003, p. 277:

     Though Chancellor Maupeou had supported the idea of a trial [...], the legal proceedings developed into a mare's nest of accusations and counter-accusations.

Anagrams

• steersman