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Rat's Nest

What Does "Rat's Nest" Mean?

homeidiomsRat's Nest
"Rat's nest" is an English idiom. It means "a disorganized, messy, or tangled mass of objects or wires; a chaotic or cluttered situation."

Examples in Sentences

Here are three examples of the idiom "rat's nest" used in a sentence:
  • The cables behind the computer desk had turned into a rat's nest, making it difficult to identify the right connections.
  • The old attic was a rat's nest of forgotten toys, dusty books, and discarded furniture.
  • Cleaning out the garage revealed a rat's nest of old tools and equipment.
meaning for rat's nest

What Is an Idiom?

An idiom is a commonly used expression whose meaning does not relate to the literal meaning of its words. In other words, if you were to translate "Rat's Nest" word for word, there is no guarantee the translation would help you to understand the meaning.

An idiom often includes a cultural or historical context that makes it difficult for non-native English speakers to understand. A phrase is classified as an idiom when a direct translation of the words does not reveal the meaning. Most idioms rely on shared knowledge or experiences known only to a specific community.

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