state of affairs: Idiom Meaning and Origin

The idiom "in a state" is another commonly used phrase in English language that is related to the concept of "state of affairs". When someone is "in a state," it means that they are experiencing a high level of stress, anxiety, or agitation. This phrase is often used to describe someone who is overwhelmed or emotionally distraught due to a particular situation or circumstance. The use of this idiom adds a sense of intensity and urgency to the description of a person's emotional state.

One example of this idiom in use could be: "After receiving the news of her father's ill health, Sarah was in a state. She couldn't focus on anything else and was completely consumed by worry."

The idiom "out of fix" is another phrase that can be related to the concept of "state of affairs." When something is "out of fix," it means that it is not in proper working order or functioning as it should. This idiom is often used to describe a situation or condition that is problematic or messed up. It conveys a sense of frustration or dissatisfaction with the current state of things.

An example of this idiom in use could be: "The company's financial records were in such a state of disarray that the auditors couldn't make heads or tails of them. The entire accounting department was in a state of fix trying to sort out the mess."

The idiom "Mexican breakfast" is a less common phrase that can also be connected to the idea of "state of affairs." This idiom is used to describe a situation or condition that is chaotic, disorganized, or messy. It implies that things are in a state of confusion or disorder.

For example, you might hear someone say: "The office after the holiday party was a Mexican breakfast. There were empty cups and plates everywhere, and nobody could find their notes from the meeting."

The idiom "ill health" is another related phrase that describes a condition or state of being unwell or in poor health. It can be used to refer to physical as well as mental health. This idiom adds a specific context to the concept of "state of affairs" by specifically focusing on the condition of a person's health.

Here's an example of this idiom in use: "After months of stress and overwork, John's state of affairs with respect to his health was not good. He was constantly fatigued, had trouble sleeping, and was experiencing frequent headaches."

Lastly, the idiom "at the best of times" can be applied to the concept of "state of affairs" to emphasize that a particular situation or condition is challenging or difficult even in the most favorable circumstances. This idiom suggests that the state of affairs being described is already unfavorable or undesirable, and would be even more so under different or worse conditions.

For instance, you might say: "Sarah's state of affairs with her job was already difficult, but with the added pressure of a deadline, it became overwhelming at the best of times."

The idioms "in a state," "out of fix," "Mexican breakfast," "ill health," and "at the best of times" are all related to the concept of "state of affairs." Each of these idiomatic expressions adds a specific context or nuance to the description of a situation or condition, emphasizing various aspects such as emotional distress, chaos, disorder, poor health, or difficulty. These idioms allow speakers and writers to convey a more vivid and nuanced understanding of the current state or condition of certain matters or events.