All over the shop

Posted by R. Berg on March 23, 2007

In Reply to: All over the shop posted by Lewis on March 23, 2007

: : I think there is a phrase 'all over the shop' - what does this come from

: yes - it is simply an expression for disorganised.
: the shop in question may be work-shop rather than retail outlet, but somebody will need to confirm.

: L

I've seen it used the same way as "all over the map" and "all over the chart": to mean widely varying, erratic. It could be said of an unstable person's moods, a golfer's scores, a student's grades. ~rb