mare's nest

Alteration of earlier horse's nest, from the fanciful and unlikely notion that horses make nests.

• (UK) IPA^(key): /ˈmɛːz nɛst/

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mare's nest (plural mare's nests or mares' nests) (figurative)

1. A great discovery which turns out to be illusory; a hoax.
   • c. 1620, John Fletcher (playwright), Bonduca, V.2:

     Why dost thou laugh? What Mares nest hast thou found?

2. A confused or complicated situation; a muddle.
   • 2002, Colin Jones, The Great Nation, Penguin, published 2003, page 277:

     Though Chancellor Maupeou had supported the idea of a trial [...], the legal proceedings developed into a mare's nest of accusations and counter-accusations.

• boar's nest
• horse-nest

• stearsmen, steersman