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dumpster fire

noun

  1. a fire in a garbage dumpster
  2. a generally messed up situation
  3. slang referring to something so bad it resembles burning garbage
L202853 on Wikidata ↗

Wiktionary

Pronunciation: /ˈdʌmpstəˈfaɪ.ə(ɹ)/ / /ˈdʌmpstəˈfaɪə(ɹ)/ / /ˈdʌmpstɚˈfaɪəɹ/

noun

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

  1. 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.

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

    The dumpster fire was ruled an arson.