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be messy

[/bi ˈmɛsi/]
verb phrase
ser bagunçado
1. to be disorganized, untidy, or in a state of disorder
The bedroom was messy with clothes scattered everywhere.
O quarto era bagunçado com roupas espalhadas por toda parte.
2. to be complicated, unclear, or difficult to deal with (figurative)
The situation got messy when both parties disagreed.
A situação ficou complicada quando ambas as partes discordaram.
3. to have poor personal hygiene or appearance
He looked messy after working in the garden all day.
Ele parecia sujo depois de trabalhar no jardim o dia todo.
NYC Slang
be a hot mess
Synonyms
be untidybe disorganizedbe clutteredbe sloppybe unkempt
Antonyms
be neatbe tidybe organizedbe cleanbe orderly

Regional Variations

General Brazilian
ser bagunçado/ser desorganizado
most common usage in everyday Brazilian Portuguese
Rio de Janeiro
ser bagunçado/ser desembaraçado
colloquial usage common in Rio vernacular
São Paulo
ser bagunçado/ser trapalhão
trapalhão emphasizes clumsiness in addition to messiness
Portugal
ser desorganizado/ser desleixado
desleixado more common in European Portuguese for careless/messy

Related Idioms & Phrases

make a mess of something
be in a pickle
be all over the place
have a messy breakup
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