mare's nest
noun
1
- a complex and difficult situation; a muddle复杂而困难的局面; 混乱：
our desk's usually a mare's nest.
我们的桌子常常是乱七八糟。
2
- an illusory discovery虚幻的发现：
the mare's nest of perfect safety.
自以为绝对安全。
词源
late 16th cent.: formerly in the phrase to have found （or spied） a mare's nest （i.e. something that does not exist）, used in the sense 'to have discovered something amazing'.