in chaos 多表现一个大环境,比如说整个城市阿,整个一个大企业啊什么的 After the failure of the electricity supplies the city was in chaos. 电力供应中断,城市陷于混乱之中。 The division was in chaos. 当时的民航一片混乱。
in a mess 多形容一些局部的情况,比如一间屋子,小生意等等 The room was in a mess. 屋子乱得一塌糊涂。 Our business is in a mess. 我们的生意陷入困境。