Big mess

RATSNEST

Think of tangled wires or a chaotic jumble often found in workshops or behind electronics—this term describes it perfectly.

"Big mess" hints at a chaotic situation, but the answer "RATSNEST" plays on two meanings. First, it literally describes a tangled, messy pile—like wires or debris—often called a "rat’s nest." Second, it’s a pun: a real rat’s nest is a messy, jumbled home for rodents, reinforcing the idea of disorder. The clue cleverly merges the literal and figurative to lead you to the answer.