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Looking for an English word or expression for not having a real boss in charge


There is a Hungarian word fejetlenség, literally, having no head, in the state of having no head, meaning a situation where a state or an organisation is an unruly mess.


Is there an English expression for this?


http://www.thesaurus.com/browse/disorganization


gives many synonyms


but I did not find one that uses this way of expression


a figurative one


is there one?


UPDATE: unruly mess itself might be close, as


http://www.finedictionary.com/unruly.html


says unruly is "unwilling to submit authority", in my words: disobedience


but what I want to emphasize is that there is no authority, not that people rebel against it



Answer



You should consider rudderless to describe the organisation when no (real) boss is present.



rudderless (adjective)
(of an organization) without anyone in control and therefore unable to take decisions



You should check unaccountable from the perspective of the staff when no (real) boss is present.



unaccountable:


: not required to explain actions or decisions


: not required to be responsible for something



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