What they really mean is.....

[rwsmith]

Ok, we know that when you criticize someone, you have to say "Bless his heart" to show lack of animosity. Well I have another one.

"He's a mess"

Now guys don't say that. They will say that he is a jerk or an *******, but women say, "He's a mess."

 

[old bear]

"He's a mess."

I may be a mess, but that is a new one on me.

 

[bigwheelzip]

The women I grew up with would call you "SCUSTUMAD" if you were trying to be an idiot, or "CUCUZZA" if you just didn't know any better.

 

[Salty RI]

He's a mess, I never heard that one, if I wrote what I say, I would get enough infractions to last me a few life times.

 

[bigride]

I often gently "harass" a very dignified elderly retired teacher who attends my church. She enjoys the banter, and being a fine Christian woman, she usually gives more than she receives when I deliver a playful jab her direction. Every now and then as I stand by my wife, she will look at my wife with a wry smile and say with her sweet Arkansas accent, "He's a mess...but he's our mess." And the two of them will just laugh.

 

[pawngal]

My favorite expression along that line is "he's as messed(or insert your preferred profanity)up as a soup sandwich.

 

[vigil617]

I'm very familiar with the term "mess" as a description of someone who is sort of lovably exasperating, or wackily unpredictable, but in a harmless way.

However, you should know that there is a new term among younger people, "hot mess," that seems to have different shades of meaning depending on the user, but generally means out of control in a very negative way.

 

[M E Morrison]

The women I grew up with would call you "SCUSTUMAD" if you were trying to be an idiot, or "CUCUZZA" if you just didn't know any better.

How about a translation?

 

[bigwheelzip]

How about a translation?

Sorry, must have figured everyone learned our slang watching the Soprano's.
Mean's idiot, but it needs context.
Something about it is lost if not delivered with the correct regional inflection, so these folks from home have been making a video slang dictionary.

[ame]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=50ZXKPSSHDI[/ame]

[ame]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vdZ03PwxFgw[/ame]

 

[M E Morrison]

Sorry, must have figured everyone learned our slang watching the Soprano's.
Mean's idiot, but it needs context.
Something about it is lost if not delivered with the correct regional inflection, so these folks from home have been making a video slang dictionary.

"The Italian American Slang Word of the Day!" is SCUSTUMAD' - YouTube

"The Italian American Slang Word of the Day!" is CUCUZZA - YouTube

OK, thanks! I have never watched the sopranos, so these were a total mystery to me.....

 

[RobertJ.]

My favorite expression along that line is "he's as messed(or insert your preferred profanity)up as a soup sandwich.

I learned that one in boot camp, completely un-censored!

 

[vigil617]

OK, thanks! I have never watched the sopranos, so these were a total mystery to me.....

Me either! And I was playing h*** trying to figure out the acronyms!

 

[snuffy51]

Down here we just say " He (or she) don't know no better, didn't have no proper raisin", or "Don't pay no 'tention to 'em, they from up north.

 

[THE PILGRIM]

I have been called a mess, among other things.
Above your raisin?
Old Southern expression.
Some folks even sing about it.


[ame]https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=4-736eE_pDs[/ame]

 

[shouldazagged]

In this part of the country an alternative to an affectionate "He's a mess" is
"That boy just ain't right."

I long ago lost count of the times I've been told I "ain't right".

 

[Alpo]

So, Scustumad all same same Nye Kulturny?

Got it.

 

[bigwheelzip]

So, Scustumad all same same Nye Kulturny?

Though that would have been heard two neighborhoods away in Brighton Beach.

 

[joeintexas]

I have been told "Joe, you're a mess" more times than I can count. After some of the things I have been called I considered that a compliment! Now I'm not so sure.

 

[rwsmith]

Remember that just like....

....'Bless His Heart" this is a Southern thing.

 

[RSBH44]

How about a translation?

Fuhgeddaboudit