Commonwealth slang for something disordered or done badly, from a chaotic wiring cabinet to a part with five different tool marks and a gouge. In a shop it tends to describe the work of whoever had the job last, and it usually means the fix starts by tearing it all out.
Heard on the job
The wiring in that control cabinet is a dog's breakfast, no labels, three colors of ground and splices everywhere.
Also heard as
- dog's dinner
- hot mess
- rat's nest
Related terms
Bodge
A crude, makeshift repair or piece of work that does the job, but only just.
Cattywampus
Crooked, askew, out of square or not lined up, said of parts, setups and buildings alike.
Bubblegum and baling wire
Describes a repair or machine held together by improvised, makeshift fixes that should not still be working.