stir up mud; muddy the waters
Tone colorsmāmámǎmàma
Meanings
2 senses · 5 examplesverb
to stir up and make muddy; to roil
Literally refers to stirring up sediment in water, causing it to become unclear.
Bié别
yòng用
gùn棍
zi子
zài在
chí池
táng塘
lǐ里
jiǎo搅
hún浑
shuǐ水
，
huì会
bǎ把
yú鱼
xià吓
pǎo跑
de的
。
Don't stir up the water in the pond with a stick; you'll scare the fish away.
Dà大
yǔ雨
guò过
hòu后
，
hé河
shuǐ水
bèi被
jiǎo搅
hún浑
le了
。
After the heavy rain, the river water became muddy.
verb
to deliberately create confusion; to muddy the waters
A metaphorical use, implying someone is intentionally obscuring facts or creating a chaotic situation to benefit themselves or hide the truth.
Tā他
zǒng总
shì是
shì试
tú图
zài在
huì会
yì议
zhōng中
jiǎo搅
hún浑
shuǐ水
，
ràng让
bié别
rén人
wú无
fǎ法
dá达
chéng成
gòng共
shí识
。
He always tries to muddy the waters in meetings, making it impossible for others to reach a consensus.
Bù不
yào要
bèi被
tā他
nà那
xiē些
hùn混
xiáo淆
shì视
tīng听
de的
wèn问
tí题
jiǎo搅
hún浑
le了
。
Don't get confused by his misleading questions.
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Nà那
ge个
zhèng政
kè客
de的
fā发
yán言
bù不
guò过
shì是
wèi为
le了
jiǎo搅
hún浑
shuǐ水
，
zhuǎn转
yí移
gōng公
zhòng众
de的
zhù注
yì意
lì力
。
That politician's speech was just to muddy the waters and divert public attention.