muddy the waters

USAGE SUMMARY

"muddy the waters" is a correct and commonly used phrase in written English.
It is used to describe a situation or discussion that is made more difficult to understand or decide upon due to the presence of confusing information or arguments. For example, "The introduction of several new pieces of evidence has muddied the waters and it's no longer clear who is responsible for the crime."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

58 human-written examples

Both sides muddy the waters.

The Economist

Both further muddy the waters.

The Guardian - Opinion

He's deliberately trying to muddy the waters.

The Washington Post

He definitely wanted to muddy the waters".

The New York Times

She was "trying to muddy the waters," he said.

The New Yorker

The Israeli army sought to muddy the waters.

The Guardian

To suggest this is to muddy the waters.

The Guardian - Opinion

Divisions over the Israel-Palestine conflict muddy the waters.

The Guardian - Opinion

"These people get paid to muddy the waters," he said.

The New York Times - Science

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

2 human-written examples

Such an informal, muddy-the-waters, strategy is a cop-out.

The Guardian - Business

Comments that try to muddy the water are regrettable but apparently a fact of Washington politics.

Harvard University

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "muddy the waters" when you want to emphasize the deliberate introduction of confusion or complexity into a situation or discussion, often with the intent to deceive or mislead.

Common error

Avoid using "muddy the waters" when describing genuine confusion or unintentional mistakes. The phrase implies a deliberate act to obscure or mislead.

Linguistic Context

"Muddy the waters" functions as a verb phrase within a sentence. It's used to describe the action of making something less clear, often with the implication of intentional obfuscation. Ludwig's examples show this phrase used in various contexts to highlight the act of creating confusion.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

89%

Formal & Business

5%

Science

3%

Less common in

Academia

1%

Wiki

1%

Encyclopedias

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "muddy the waters" is a commonly used idiomatic phrase that means to make something unclear or confusing, often intentionally. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and frequent use, especially within news and media contexts. When writing, use this phrase to describe deliberate actions that obscure the truth, and consider alternatives like "obfuscate the issue" or "confuse the matter" to vary your language. Be mindful of the intentionality implied by the phrase, and avoid using it for unintentional mistakes.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

obfuscate the issue

Focuses on making an issue unclear or unintelligible through complex language or arguments.

confuse the matter

Highlights the act of making a situation or topic perplexing and difficult to understand.

cloud the issue

Emphasizes obscuring the central point, making it difficult to discern the truth.

muddle the issue

Suggests a lack of clarity or order, making something difficult to deal with.

obstruct understanding

Directly indicates an action that hinders comprehension of a subject.

complicate matters

Points to the act of making something more intricate or involved than necessary.

blur the lines

Suggests making distinctions less clear, often intentionally.

confuse the situation

Indicates the act of making the circumstances unclear or difficult to follow.

befog the question

Highlights making a question unclear or difficult to answer directly.

render unclear

Focuses on the act of making something vague or indistinct.

FAQs

How can I use "muddy the waters" in a sentence?

Use "muddy the waters" to describe actions that make a situation more confusing or less clear. For instance, "The politician's contradictory statements only served to muddy the waters."

What does it mean to "muddy the waters"?

To "muddy the waters" means to make something unclear, confusing, or difficult to understand, often intentionally.

What can I say instead of "muddy the waters"?

You can use alternatives like "obfuscate the issue", "confuse the matter", or "cloud the issue" depending on the context.

Is it better to "muddy the water" or "muddy the waters"?

"Muddy the waters" is the more common and idiomatic expression. "Muddy the water" can be used in a literal sense, but it's rarely used idiomatically.