a beehive of irregularity

[Pidginboy]

"Your operation of the project is a beehive of irregularities and violations."
This is what I said to my junior on how he spent project money when I noticed all kinds of intended and unintended errors in operation of it.

I wanted to describe the project as a beehive ( a metaphor) in the sense that it is a thick collection of things obnoxious. Is there a better metaphor than that?

 

[Loob]

Somebody may be able to think of a better alternative.

In the meantime, I should say that we usually use "beehive" as a positive metaphor for industrious activity. I would have been very confused by your comment, Pidginboy: I wouldn't have known whether you were praising me or criticising me....

 

[Nunty]

We usually collocate "beehive" with "activity". Bees represent industriousness.(*) How about a wasp's nest instead?



EDIT: (*) As Loob said faster than I.

 

[Pidginboy]

Wasp's nest! A nice idea. Thanks a lot.