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dumpster fire

noun
/ˈdʌmpstəˈfaɪ.ə(ɹ)/UK/ˈdʌmpstɚˈfaɪəɹ/US

Etymology

The figurative sense connotes that things that were already contemptible (as if trash) are now also even worse (as if aflame).

Definitions

  1. A chaotic, unpleasant, unmanageable thing, situation, or person

    A chaotic, unpleasant, unmanageable thing, situation, or person; a disaster.

    • As honeymoons go, this was a total dumpster fire.
    • Illinois football and the entire university are in a state of mayhem. . . . Illinois athletics is a dumpster fire right now.
    • [W]ith these two candidates, this election remains a dumpster fire.

  2. Used other than figuratively or idiomatically

    Used other than figuratively or idiomatically: see dumpster, fire.

    • The dumpster fire was ruled an arson.

The neighborhood

Vish — recursive loop

No curated loop yet for dumpster fire. Loops are being traced one word at a time while the ingestion pipeline matures.

sense glosses and etymology drawn from English Wiktionary · source · CC-BY-SA