soup sandwich

English

Etymology

An expression of military origin, calling to mind a picture of soup being poured over bread.

Pronunciation

• Audio (General Australian):

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Noun

soup sandwich (plural soup sandwiches)

1. (US, idiomatic) Someone or something that is not as it should be; something disorganized or unfinished.

   That's as messed up as a soup sandwich.

   That guy is a big soup sandwich.

   • 2005 January 27, Jon R. Anderson, “Army wrapping up work on final draft of 1st Infantry Division relocation plan”, in Stars and Stripes, retrieved 8 Sept. 2009:

     “Right now it’s all still very much a soup sandwich,” said the Army official of the ongoing planning efforts, “but we expect to trot the whole thing out in April.”

See also

• shit sandwich