a confusing mess

English translation: complicated and chaotic

15:00 Jun 27, 2014

English language (monolingual) [Non-PRO]
Art/Literary - Idioms / Maxims / Sayings / description of ambivalent attachment with mother

English term or phrase: a confusing mess

Hi,
I think I understand the general meaning but I’d need some additional information to find the right translation...

I was wondering whether I should interpret “confusing” as an intensifier of “a mess”, so the meaning would be “absolutely chaotic”.

Or could it be more in the direction of “such a chaos that I was totally disoriented”?
In the subsequent passages, the author often uses the term “confusion” to refer to the relationship of this woman with her mother...

May I also ask whether this expression is perceived as highly informal in English? In Italian, we have the word “casino” for “mess”, but it is quite informal, and I was wondering whether the same is true for “a confusing mess” in this context.

Thank you very much for your help and patience, too!

Here is the passage:

We gathered from her attachment assessment that she had what is called an ambivalent history with her mom, who had been preoccupied about her competence as a mother and a wife. Her mom had been warm and caring, but it was a relationship that Gail said was “loving but a * confusing mess.” * Dealing with her feelings toward this confusion was challenging in the face of her grief about her mother’s passing. In some ways, there were elements of unresolved loss around her mother, too. Reflecting on that important loss in her life could help her resolve that grief and gain more access to her feelings about their complicated relationship.

haribert KudoZ activity Questions: 289 (1 open) (1 without valid answers) (1 closed without grading) Answers: 524
Local time: 07:26

Selected answer:complicated and chaotic

Explanation:
Is how I understand it.

Selected response from:

Jonathan MacKerron

Grading comment

Thank you very much for your help and for your explanations in the Discussion!
4 KudoZ points were awarded for this answer

SUMMARY OF ALL EXPLANATIONS PROVIDED

2 +2

complicated and chaotic

Jonathan MacKerron

Discussion entries: 4

Answers

3 mins confidence:

peer agreement (net): +2

complicated and chaotic

Explanation:
Is how I understand it.

Jonathan MacKerron
Native speaker of: English
PRO pts in category: 20

Grading comment

Thank you very much for your help and for your explanations in the Discussion!

Notes to answerer

Asker: Thank you, Jonathan, for your prompt reply? May I ask whether you perceive this expression as highly informal?

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a confusing mess

English translation: complicated and chaotic

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a confusing mess

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