“in a mess”是英语中常用的介词短语，核心含义是“一团糟；混乱不堪；乱糟糟的状态”，用来描述环境、情况、计划或人的生活/状态处于无序、混乱的局面。
强调“无序、杂乱、难以整理或解决”的状态，可对应中文的“乱七八糟”“一团乱麻”“乱糟糟”等表达。
作为表语（be动词/系动词后）或补语，修饰事物、情况或人，具体场景如下：
指物理空间（如房间、桌子、厨房等）被弄乱，物品摆放无序。
The kids’ bedroom is always in a mess—toys are everywhere!
孩子们的卧室总是乱糟糟的——玩具到处都是！
After the party, the living room was in a complete mess with empty bottles and pizza boxes.
派对结束后，客厅一片狼藉，满是空瓶子和披萨盒。
指事情（如项目、计划、安排）进展不顺利，陷入无序或困境。
The project went in a mess because no one was in charge.
因为没人负责，这个项目搞得一团糟。
Her travel plans are in a mess—she lost her passport and missed the flight.
她的旅行计划全乱了——她丢了护照还误了航班。
指个人生活、情绪或状态陷入无序（如失业、压力大导致的“一团乱”）。
Since he broke up with his girlfriend, his life has been in a total mess.
自从和女朋友分手后，他的生活完全乱了套。
I’m in a mess right now—I have exams next week and haven’t studied at all.
我现在一团糟——下周要考试，可我根本没复习。
get sth. in a mess：把某事搞乱/搞砸
She got the whole schedule in a mess by double-booking meetings.
她因为重复预约会议，把整个日程搞乱了。
be in a terrible/complete/total mess：强调“极度混乱”（加强语气）
The kitchen was in a terrible mess after we tried to bake a cake.
我们试着烤蛋糕后，厨房乱得一塌糊涂。
clean up a mess：收拾残局/整理混乱
Can you help me clean up this mess? I need to get the house ready for guests.
你能帮我收拾一下吗？我得把房子整理好迎接客人。
“in a mess”侧重状态描述，比形容词“messy”（杂乱的）更强调“陷入混乱的结果”。使用时需结合具体场景，说明“什么东西/情况/人乱了”，让表达更明确。