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muddy up

/ˈmʌdi ʌp/
phrasal verb★Intermediate◆phrasal verb
◆ What It Really Means
to make something dirty or complicated
¶ Literal Meaning
to make something muddy
Literal Breakdown
muddycovered with mud+upto make something higher or more intense
◇ Mental Image
making a mess or complicating a situation
◈ When to Use
informal situations, everyday conversations
informal

to make something dirty, especially with mud

The kids muddied up the bathroom after playing outside.

The children made the bathroom dirty with mud after playing outside.

informal

to make a situation or issue more complicated or confused

The new policy muddied up the already complex issue.

The new policy made the already complex issue even more confusing.

Synonyms

Antonyms

English Dictionary

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