act a mess

phrase

Etymology

Formed from the verb act + the adjective a + the noun mess. See OED act, v., OED a, adj., OED mess, n.1 I 3.

Meaning & use

  1. 1903–To behave in a manner that is chaotic, disruptive, or disorderly, often with a display of heightened emotion.
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    1903
    My daughter acted a mess getting them ears pierced 😩
    D. H. S. Cranage Archit. Account Churches of Shropshire II. vi. 463
    1965
    I'm a stack and act a mess 'cuzzi down the bed, nine-eight Clarion laid in my head rest.
    G. Jones The Island of Apples i. vi. 57
    1977
    Aiming can be dodgy...and those civilians do look and act a mess, but these are small hitches within a massive and massively engaging game.
    D. Ó Muirithe English Language in Ireland 113 in J. Garvin
    1978
    Work taking off like a motherfucking jet. When I get gassed, I be acting a mess.
    N. Marsh Grave Mistake viii. 240

See also