a complete Horlicks

This substitution in the form of a singular noun is also used to refer to a minor disaster or shambles, as in 'to make a complete Horlicks of something'.

If it weren't for their fear of making a complete Horlicks of the situation, the last Labour government could have built schools and hospitals the traditional way with some good old fashioned capital spending.

For example, the term was used in July 2003 by British Foreign Secretary Jack Straw ("a complete Horlicks") to describe irregularities in the preparation and provenance of a dossier regarding weapons of mass destruction in Iraq.