[Elamur Dictionary](https://md.dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/) · [this page in HTML](https://dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/english/muddle/)

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# muddle

noun (a muddle, muddles); verb (muddle, muddles, muddled, muddling); adjective muddled

«muddle» in the English dictionary: everyday — its meanings, how the lessons use it, and examples, each with its tree on Mova.

## Everyday

1. A muddle is an untidy mess, or a state of confusion: «My drawer is in a muddle». [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/M/muddle/#m1)
2. To muddle things means to mix them up or put them in the wrong order. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/M/muddle/#m2)
3. To be muddled or get in a muddle means to feel confused or make mistakes because you cannot think clearly. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/M/muddle/#m3)
4. (UK) To muddle through means to manage somehow, without a good plan. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/M/muddle/#m4)

### In the lessons

In everyday life it describes untidy rooms and mixed-up facts; in maths lessons pupils get «in a muddle» with steps. Phrases: «in a muddle», «muddle up», «muddle through», «get muddled».

### Examples

- My socks are in a muddle. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/M/muddle/#x1)
- I always muddle up «their» and «there». [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/M/muddle/#x2)
- Grandpa gets muddled when he's tired. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/M/muddle/#x3)
- Don't muddle the numbers in your answer. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/M/muddle/#x4)
- We had no map but muddled through. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/M/muddle/#x5)
- The twins are easy to muddle. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/M/muddle/#x6)
- The instructions were a total muddle. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/M/muddle/#x7)
- Slow down so you don't get in a muddle with the sums. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/M/muddle/#x8)

### Note

Regular verb: muddled, muddling (drop the e). «Muddle» is softer and gentler than «mess». It is common in British English.

## On Mova

- [Trees and pragmatics of «muddle» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/M/muddle/): every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames.
- [«muddle» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/muddle.html) on Mova free.