Amid setback, Outlook to make a mess (6,2)

I believe the answer is:

tangle up

I'm a little stuck... Click here to teach me more about this clue!

'amid setback outlook to make a' is the definition.
I can't tell whether this definition defines the answer.

'mess' is the wordplay.
I cannot really see how this works, but
'mess' could be 'tangle' (I've seen this in another clue) and 'tangle' is present in the answer.
The remaining letters 'up' is a valid word which might be clued in a way I don't understand.
This may be the basis of the clue (or it may be nonsense).

Can you help me to learn more?

I've seen this clue in the Sydney Morning Herald.

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