From Longman Dictionary of Contemporary Englishmake a mess of (doing) somethingmake a mess of (doing) somethingto do something badly I feel I’ve made a real mess of my marriage. Many people make a mess of handling money. → mess
Examples from the Corpus
make a mess of (doing) something• The shell hit the roof of the building and made a mess of the inside of the building.• Convinced of his own plainness, Graham is here engaged in taking Jenny out and making a mess of kissing her.• An explosion would have made a mess of them, and matchsticks of that tub.• He made a mess of things in the park, but it's the first time he's got it wrong.• Hands were wrung in every quarter at the prospect of homosexuals making a mess of this fine, strong outfit.• If I make a mess of it that woman is going to be so glad.• Most people make a mess of handling money.• She made a mess of her life. 