Community

Your word isn't here yet

Join Hablaaa and add the expression no one else has documented.

/Sounds like "ahr" (as in "art") + "MAHR" (as in "mark") + "EHL" (as in "egg") + "dehs" (as in "debt") + "peh" (as in "pet") + "LOH" (as in "loan") + "teh" (as in "ten")/

Meaning

To cause total chaos or a spectacular mess that quickly spirals out of control. Used in Mexico, Argentina, and Uruguay for both starting a conflict and creating the kind of confusion that is nearly impossible to clean up. The person who arma el despelote often has a natural talent for spectacular disorder.

Examples

He walked into the meeting and caused complete chaos in ten minutes with one comment.

Who made a total mess of the server files and didn't tell anyone?

Regional synonyms

In Venezuela, to turn out worse than expected or to let someone down. When something or someone "salió rana," they failed to live up to the trust placed in them.