goat rope

See also: goat-rope

English

Alternative forms

• goat-rope

Etymology

Derived from goat roper

Pronunciation

• Audio (AU)

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Noun

goat rope (plural goat ropes)

1. (slang) A confusing, disorganized situation often attributed to or marked by human error.
   • 2010, Mark Perry, Talking to Terrorists: Why America Must Engage with Its Enemies:

     Never did find out what happened in July, but that was a goat rope that was poorly coordinated.

   • 2013, Lyle O’Connor, Due Process:

     What a goat rope! The fact that we had to appear three different times was certainly an indicator things were going poorly for the prosecution.

2. (slang) A convoluted issue that is contested by many parties.
   • 2013, A. American, Surviving Home, page 32:

     “How far up does this little goat rope go?” Sarge asked. “As far as we know, all the way to the commander in chief.”

3. A rodeo event in which competitors attempt to lasso a goat, usually for younger participants.
4. An ill-advised solution to contain a problem; a solution that will eventually fail.

Synonyms

• (confusing situation): clusterfuck, debacle, fiasco, goatfuck, fustercluck
• (convoluted issue): hairball