muddy the waters

Register · Neutral Neutral — appropriate in most situations, both spoken and written, without sounding too casual or too stiff. CEFR B2

Post

Example

“Introducing an unrelated complaint will only muddy the waters during the investigation.”

Dictionary details

Component words

muddy

Tags

Expressions connected by reviewed component words or topic tags.

cry wolf Neutral · CEFR B1

to give false warnings so often that a real warning may later be ignored

name names Neutral · CEFR B1

to identify specific people, especially those linked to wrongdoing or secrecy

take someone's word for it Neutral · CEFR B1

to believe what someone says without asking for evidence

tell it like it is Neutral · CEFR B1

to describe a situation frankly, without softening or hiding the truth

the whole story Neutral · CEFR B1

all the facts about a situation, including ones not yet known

break cover Neutral · CEFR B2

to stop concealing one's true position or intentions and make them known

Source methodology

Meanings, register, CEFR, and examples come from the reviewed dictionary record. Expression notes may describe a reviewed present-day word picture or a background note; they are not presented as verified etymology.

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