Here's how it originated:
* Horlicks is a brand of powdered milk drink, popular in the UK.
* Making Horlicks involves mixing the powder with hot water, which can sometimes get messy if not done carefully.
* The phrase "bit of a horlicks" likely emerged from this everyday experience, where the process of making Horlicks could go wrong and result in a sticky mess.
Examples:
* "The party was a bit of a horlicks, the music was too loud and nobody could find the food."
* "The traffic was a bit of a horlicks this morning, I was late for work."
* "My attempt at baking a cake was a bit of a horlicks, it ended up looking like a brick."
Essentially, it's a playful and understated way of saying something went wrong, often with a humorous tone.