clusterbùrach

English

Alternative forms

• clusterbourach, clusterboorach

Etymology

Blending of English cluster (from clusterfuck) and Scottish Gaelic bùrach (“mess, shambles”).

Noun

clusterbùrach (plural clusterbùrachs)

1. (Scotland, informal, neologism) A total mess, catastrophic failure, fiasco.
   • 2017 February 10, Kenny Farquharson, "Canvas of Brexit is best viewed by squinting", The Times (Scottish edition):

     I have been arguing hard that Brexit should be treated not just as the clusterbùrach it undoubtedly is, but also as a watershed for Scotland’s relationship with the rest of the UK.

   • 2018 January 3, Kenny Farquharson, "Ban on smacking will struggle for support", The Times (Scottish edition):

     The named person scheme jeopardised that contract of trust. ... Some changes have been made but I worry the damage has been done. ... Some might pin the blame for named person on Mr Salmond ..., given that it was conceived on his watch. To my mind, however, it is a clusterbùrach entirely of Ms Sturgeon’s own making.

   • 2018 December 5, Michael Russell, "Meeting of the Parliament: European Union Withdrawal Agreement and Political Declaration" Chamber Official Report, Scottish Parliament:

     it is now all reduced to the fact that this is a complete bùrach—it is, to use a word coined by my friend Hugh Dan MacLennan, a clusterbùrach.

   • 2018 December 10, Hannah Bardell, "Exiting the European Union" Hansard HC vol 651 c44, UK Parliament:

     What the heck is going on? This is a complete and utter clusterbùrach.

Synonyms

• omnishambles