IdiomNature
English
Englishmuddy the waters
Meaning: To make a situation confusing, often on purpose.
Example: “The lawyer's new witness only muddied the waters.”
Origin: Stirring up the bottom of a pond or stream clouds the water so that nothing can be seen clearly. William Ames used the image figuratively in 1633 — "he mudds the water, and so would mislead the simple" — and it has meant deliberate confusion ever since.
Other ways to say this
French: Noyer le poisson Literally: To drown the fish
Japanese: お茶を濁す (ocha o nigosu) Literally: To muddy the tea
Russian: Заговаривать зубы (Zagovarivat' zuby) Literally: To talk someone's teeth away
Greek: Άλλα λόγια ν' αγαπιόμαστε Literally: Other words so we may love each other- English: give someone the runaround
More English idioms
- be bone idle To be extremely lazy.
- like pulling teeth Extremely difficult, especially when trying to get someone to cooperate.
- put one's foot in it To say something tactless or embarrassing.
- talk behind someone's back To say unkind things about someone when they are not present.
- have pins and needles To feel a prickling, tingling sensation in a limb that has gone numb.
- be on pins and needles To be very anxious while waiting for something.
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