a) He got really drunk.
Sorry, wrong answer. Please try again.
b) He made a real mess.
Well done ! That’s the right answer.
’to make a pig’s ear of something or of doing something’ means to do something very badly or to make a disastrous mess of something.
French translation
bâcler un travail, rater quelque chose, faire un travail de cochon, faire quelque chose comme un gougnafier
How NOT to translate : *Il en a fait une belle oreille de cochon !
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Examples in context
‘They made a pig’s ear out of finding right punishment for Vicky Pryce
An article in a national newspaper last week suggested that Vicky Pryce (the wife who took three points for her husband, got "nul" points from the judge for doing so and then whinged about it) might find it hard to do her time.’
Belfast Telegraph, 26 March 2013
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‘Olympics deal ‘is a pig’s ear’
A DEAL to allow West Ham Football Club to move into the Olympic Stadium should be ripped up because taxpayers will be paying for it for years to come, it was claimed last night.’
It’s a pig’s ear of a decision and should not be allowed to continue.
Andrew Boff, Tory Olympics spokesman in the London Assembly
Express, 24 March 2013
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Everyday usage
If you make a pig’s ear of the first one, you can try the other one.
Tim made a right pig’s ear of putting those shelves up.
I was backing the car out of the garage, I overshot the drive and smacked the car against the gate post, scratching it. What a pigs ear I made of that one !
c) He was very unsympathetic.
Sorry, wrong answer. Please try again.
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