The phrase “all over the place“ means everywhere or in various locations within a specific area. It can describe both physical mess and a disorganized state.
Meaning of “all over the place“
Everywhere in a specific location: Often used to describe items or situations scattered or dispersed widely across an area.
Example:
“Tom, stop leaving your dirty clothes all over the place.”
(Here, Tom’s clothes are spread out in different locations, creating disorder.)
Example:
“We keep finding this kind of problem all over the place.”
(This suggests that the problem is common and occurs in multiple instances.)
Disorganized or chaotic: Can imply a lack of structure or coherence, whether physically or in one’s thinking.
Example:
“Her thoughts were all over the place during the presentation.”
(Indicates that her thoughts were scattered or unfocused.)
Equivalent expressions
- Scattered everywhere: Often used for physical items dispersed around an area.
- In disarray: Indicates disorder or lack of organization.
The idiom “all over the place“ describes a state of disorder, where items, problems, or thoughts are scattered widely, lacking organization.
