muddle
noun/ˈmʌdl/
/ˈmʌdl/
(especially British English)- [countable, usually singular] a state in which it is difficult to think clearly
- in a muddle Can you start from the beginning again—I'm in a muddle.
Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadjective- awful
- embarrassing
- bureaucratic
- …
- get (somebody) in
- get (somebody) into
- make
- …
- in a muddle
- muddle about
- muddle over
- …
- [countable, usually singular, uncountable] muddle (about/over something) a situation in which there is a lack of understanding about arrangements, etc. and things are done wrong
- There was a muddle over the theatre tickets.
- There followed a long period of confusion and muddle.
Extra Examples- The judge made a muddle of the case.
- There was a bureaucratic muddle over his appointment.
Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadjective- awful
- embarrassing
- bureaucratic
- …
- get (somebody) in
- get (somebody) into
- make
- …
- in a muddle
- muddle about
- muddle over
- …
- [countable, usually singular, uncountable] a state in which things are untidy and not in order synonym mess
- in a muddle My papers are all in a muddle.
Extra Examples- My desk was the usual muddle of books, files and papers.
- He picked up a dirty glass, part of the muddle on the mantelpiece.
- Don't just throw your tools into the shed in a muddle.
- The house was in an awful muddle by the time the children left.
Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadjective- awful
- embarrassing
- bureaucratic
- …
- get (somebody) in
- get (somebody) into
- make
- …
- in a muddle
- muddle about
- muddle over
- …
Word Originlate Middle English (in the sense ‘wallow in mud’): perhaps from Middle Dutch moddelen, frequentative of modden ‘dabble in mud’; compare with mud. The sense ‘confuse’ was initially associated with alcoholic drink (late 17th cent.), giving rise to ‘busy oneself in a confused way’ and ‘jumble up’ (mid 19th cent.).
Check pronunciation:
muddle