rat's nests
Hopelessly knotted clumps
Rat's nests are tangled masses of something—most often wires, cables, or hair—that resemble the disordered nests rodents build from scraps: The cables behind the TV were a rat's nest.
The term extends to any chaotic situation or disorganized space: Her desk was a rat's nest of papers and coffee cups.
Also spelled as one word or hyphenated.
- webbingTough woven strap material
- clutterUntidy collection of items
- rodentsGnawing mammal order
- burrowAnimal's dug dwelling
- messDisorderly, troublesome condition
tangle · messy hair · gnawing · chaos · interlace · hairball · confusion · disorder · knotting · muddle · circuitry · jumble · dust bunnies · matted · vermin · scavenging · interweaving · tunnels