confused mess; utter confusion
Idiomatic expression describing a state of great confusion, chaos, or turmoil, often with people running around in panic. Colloquial.
See also: 上を下への大騒ぎ
With the news of the fire, the house was thrown into utter confusion.
急な来客で、台所は上や下への大騒ぎだ。
With unexpected guests, the kitchen is in a confused mess.
A variant with を instead of や, meaning the same thing. 上や下への大騒ぎ is slightly more colloquial.
Literally 'a great uproar of up and down', describing a scene where people are rushing about in confusion. The exact origin is uncertain, but it vividly depicts chaotic movement.