Real mess (5)

I think it could be either:

Which length description are you looking for?:

snafu

'real mess' is the definition.
(I've seen this in another clue)

This is the entire clue.

(Other definitions for snafu that I've seen before include "Chaos (US slang)" , "in a bad state" , "confused activity" , "Slangy acronym meaning in total confusion" , "Bloomer" .)

I've seen this clue in The New York Times.

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