Muddy the waters Meaning in English
expression
ˈmədi/ /ˈðə/, /ðə/, /ði/ /ˈwɔtɝz
MUH-dee thuh WAW-terz
mˈʌdi/ /ðə, ði/ /wˈɔːtəz
MUD-dee thuh WAW-tuz
Definición
To make a situation more confusing or complicated, especially when it was already unclear.
Uso & Matices
This is an idiomatic, informal phrase, often used in discussions or debates when someone adds details or ideas that confuse the issue. It's usually negative. Common in phrases like 'Don't muddy the waters.' Not used literally.
Spanish: complicar las cosas - confundir la situaciónPortuguese (BR): complicar a situação - confundir as coisasPortuguese (PT): complicar a situação - confundir as coisasChinese (Simplified): 把事情搞混 - 使局势更复杂Chinese (Traditional): 把事情搞混 - 使局勢更複雜Hindi: स्थिति को उलझाना - बातें और भ्रमित करनाArabic: تعقيد الأمور - إدخال المزيد من الإرباكBengali: জল ঘোলা করা - পরিস্থিতি আরও জটিল করাRussian: вносить путаницу - усложнять ситуациюJapanese: 話をややこしくする - 混乱させるVietnamese: làm mọi thứ rối thêm - làm vấn đề thêm phức tạpKorean: 물을 흐리다 - 상황을 복잡하게 만들다Turkish: suları bulandırmak - işi karıştırmakUrdu: صورتحال کو الجھانا - معاملہ پیچیدہ کرناIndonesian: memperkeruh keadaan - membuat keadaan semakin rumit
Oraciones de Ejemplo
Your questions only muddy the waters instead of helping.
basic
Don't muddy the waters with unnecessary details.
basic
Bringing up old stories will only muddy the waters.
basic
He tried to muddy the waters to avoid answering the question directly.
natural
Let’s not muddy the waters—we need a clear solution here.
natural
Their new comments just muddy the waters and make it harder to decide.
natural