"in a shambles"

Question

Hello,Is it "in a shambles" or "in shambles". I've only heard "in a shambles" all along, until I accidently stumbled upon the usage of "in shambles". Please clarify.Thanks,Prasanna

Mister Micawber · Accepted Answer

Hello, Prasanna.

Here are the sample sentences from Dictionary.com. As you can see, both forms are acceptable:

Startz had committed suicide, his practice and reputation in shambles.

He added that the higher-education system was in a shambles because of frequent monetary reductions.

Go while people remember your achievements, not when they blame you for the shambles you leave behind.

Overly restrictive licensing and smotheringly broad patent interpretations could make a shambles of synthetic biology.

As if the world economy isn't in shambles as it is currently, flooding the market with diamonds can't help matters too much.

The system would be a shambles if all judges did that.

Still, there are things that should be done to avoid an utter legal shambles and administer some justice.

Forgot to mention, however, the economy is in shambles.

Canada's policy on emissions has long been a shambles.

It was a shambles and had been evacuated only hours before

"in a shambles"

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