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Bear garden
01
a place or situation marked by confusion or chaos
What is the origin of the idiom "bear garden" and when to use it?
The term "bear garden" has its origins in the 16th and 17th centuries and refers to a place where bears were kept for public entertainment and blood sports. In such a setting, it was chaotic, unruly, and often dangerous. This expression is now used to describe any place or situation characterized by disorder, uproar, confusion, or rowdy behavior.
Example
The political debate on television quickly devolved into a bear garden, with shouting and personal attacks among the candidates.
The classroom turned into a bear garden when the substitute teacher lost control of the students.
The family reunion turned into a bear garden when long-standing disagreements and conflicts resurfaced.
The protest outside the government building became a bear garden, with demonstrators and counter-demonstrators clashing.
Trying to manage the overcrowded and understaffed emergency room during a crisis felt like working in a bear garden for the doctors and nurses.
