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- Dictionarymare's nest
noun
- 1. a complex or confused situation; a muddle: "your desk's usually a mare's nest"
- 2. an illusory discovery: "the mare's nest of perfect safety"
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What's the meaning of the phrase 'Mare's nest'? A much vaunted discovery, which later turns out to be illusory or worthless. What's the origin of the phrase 'Mare's nest'? There are two unrelated meanings of ‘mare’s nest’ in circulation, and there’s little to connect them.
A mare's nest is here being used to symbolize something that does not exist, as horses do not make nests. The phrase is first recorded in the late 16th century, as is the variant a horse's nest , although the latter is now no longer in use.
The meaning of MARE'S NEST is a false discovery, illusion, or deliberate hoax. How to use mare's nest in a sentence.
2 meanings: 1. a discovery imagined to be important but proving worthless 2. a disordered situation.... Click for more definitions.
Aug 18, 2024 · mare 's nest (plural mare's nests or mares' nests) (figurative) A great discovery which turns out to be illusory; especially, a hoax. Why dost thou laugh? What Mares nest hast thou found? A confused or complicated situation; a muddle.
A mare’s nest is a hoax, an illusion or a confused and illogical mess. The expression dates from the early 17th century and is preceded by an earlier expression, a horse’ nest, which means the same thing.
What does the idiom 'Mare's Nest' mean? With a clear, concise definition and usage examples, discover this idiom's meaning and usage in the English language. Explore with us today!
Mare's-nest definition: something imagined to be an extraordinary discovery but proving to be a delusion or a hoax. See examples of MARE'S-NEST used in a sentence.
Define mare's nest. mare's nest synonyms, mare's nest pronunciation, mare's nest translation, English dictionary definition of mare's nest. n. pl. mare's nests or mares' nests 1. A hoax or fraud. 2. An extraordinarily complicated situation. American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language,...
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