---
title: muddle — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «muddle» in the school dictionary: A muddle is an untidy mess, or a state of confusion: «My drawer is in a muddle». Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# muddle

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** muddle, drawer, you, socks, I, he · **What happens:** be, muddle, mean, mix up, put, get · **To what, where:** untidy mess, muddle, things, wrong order, mistakes, their · **Speech:** someone speaks here

<!-- .vabout -->
«muddle» in the school dictionary: its 4 meanings for a pupil and its 8 examples, every sentence parsed by Mova itself — its syntax tree, a dependency tree in the style of Universal Dependencies, and its pragmatics clause by clause. The word in the dictionary, with its sense in the lessons: [muddle in the school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/muddle.md).

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A muddle is an untidy mess, or a state of confusion: «My drawer is in a muddle».

<!-- fold The tree, 17 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:muddle:m1:1
# text = A muddle is an untidy mess, or a state of confusion: «My drawer is in a muddle».
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	muddle	muddle	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nsubj	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	6	cop	_	_
4	an	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
5	untidy	untidy	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	amod	_	_
6	mess	mess	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	10	punct	_	_
8	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	10	cc	_	_
9	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
10	state	state	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	appos	_	_
11	of	of	ADP	IN	_	12	case	_	_
12	confusion	confusion	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	20	punct	_	_
14	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	20	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	My	my	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Sing|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	16	nmod:poss	_	_
16	drawer	drawer	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	20	nsubj	_	_
17	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	20	cop	_	_
18	in	in	ADP	IN	_	20	case	_	_
19	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	20	det	_	_
20	muddle	muddle	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	appos	_	SpaceAfter=No
21	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	20	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
22	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | a muddle | a untidy mess |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **is** *in a quote* | present | My drawer |  |  | a muddle |  |  | tree rules |

<!-- .note -->
One row per clause the reader finds. «not said here»: a role filled from the clause above. «roles by»: a VerbNet class and frame when one fits the verb, else the reader's rules on the tree.

## Meaning 2 {#m2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
To muddle things means to mix them up or put them in the wrong order.

<!-- fold The tree, 15 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:muddle:m2:1
# text = To muddle things means to mix them up or put them in the wrong order.
1	To	to	PART	TO	_	2	mark	_	_
2	muddle	muddle	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	4	csubj	_	_
3	things	thing	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	obj	_	_
4	means	mean	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
5	to	to	PART	TO	_	6	mark	_	_
6	mix	mix	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	4	xcomp	_	_
7	them	they	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Number=Plur|Person=3|PronType=Prs	6	obj	_	_
8	up	up	ADP	RP	_	6	compound:prt	_	_
9	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	10	cc	_	_
10	put	put	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	6	conj	_	_
11	them	they	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Number=Plur|Person=3|PronType=Prs	10	obj	_	_
12	in	in	ADP	IN	_	15	case	_	_
13	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	15	det	_	_
14	wrong	wrong	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	15	amod	_	_
15	order	order	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
16	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **muddle** | to-infinitive |  | things |  |  |  |  | vn amalgamate-22.2-2 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent thing=Patient |
| 2 | **mean** | present |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn intend-61.2-1 «NP V S\_INF»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |
| 3 | **mix up** *not said to happen* | to-infinitive |  | things *= thing* |  |  |  |  | vn mix-22.1-1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent they=Patient |
| 4 | **put** | infinitive |  | things *= thing* |  | the wrong order |  |  | vn put-9.1-2 «NP V NP PP.destination»: agent=Agent they=Theme in order=Destination |

## Meaning 3 {#m3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
To be muddled or get in a muddle means to feel confused or make mistakes because you cannot think clearly.

<!-- fold The tree, 21 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:muddle:m3:1
# text = To be muddled or get in a muddle means to feel confused or make mistakes because you cannot think clearly.
1	To	to	PART	TO	_	3	mark	_	_
2	be	be	AUX	VB	VerbForm=Inf	3	aux:pass	_	_
3	muddled	muddle	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	9	nsubj	_	_
4	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	5	cc	_	_
5	get	get	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	3	conj	_	_
6	in	in	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	muddle	muddle	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obl	_	_
9	means	mean	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
10	to	to	PART	TO	_	11	mark	_	_
11	feel	feel	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	9	xcomp	_	_
12	confused	confused	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	11	xcomp	_	_
13	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	14	cc	_	_
14	make	make	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	11	conj	_	_
15	mistakes	mistake	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	14	obj	_	_
16	because	because	SCONJ	IN	_	20	mark	_	_
17	you	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Person=2|PronType=Prs	20	nsubj	_	_
18	can	can	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	20	aux	_	SpaceAfter=No
19	not	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	20	advmod	_	_
20	think	think	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	14	advcl	_	_
21	clearly	clearly	ADV	RB	_	20	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
22	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	9	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **muddle** | to-infinitive · passive |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn amalgamate-22.2-2 «NP V ADVP-Middle» |
| 2 | **get** | infinitive |  |  |  | a muddle |  |  | vn comprehend-87.2-1 «NP V S\_ING»: agent=Experiencer |
| 3 | **mean** | present |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn intend-61.2-1 «NP V S\_INF»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |
| 4 | **feel** *not said to happen* | to-infinitive |  |  |  |  |  | confused *property* | vn stimulus\_subject-30.4 «NP V ADJ»: agent=Stimulus |
| 5 | **make** | infinitive |  | mistakes |  |  |  |  | vn build-26.1-1 «NP.asset V NP»: agent=Asset mistake=Product |
| 6 | **not** **think** *speech: other* | can | you |  |  |  |  | clearly *property* | vn focus-87.1-1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |

## Meaning 4 {#m4}

<!-- .note -->
Usage: UK — kept apart, not parsed.

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
To muddle through means to manage somehow, without a good plan.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:muddle:m4:1
# text = To muddle through means to manage somehow, without a good plan.
1	To	to	PART	TO	_	2	mark	_	_
2	muddle	muddle	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	4	nsubj	_	_
3	through	through	ADP	IN	_	2	obl	_	_
4	means	mean	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
5	to	to	PART	TO	_	6	mark	_	_
6	manage	manage	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	4	xcomp	_	_
7	somehow	somehow	ADV	RB	_	6	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	12	punct	_	_
9	without	without	ADP	IN	_	12	case	_	_
10	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	12	det	_	_
11	good	good	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	12	amod	_	_
12	plan	plan	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **muddle through** | to-infinitive |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn amalgamate-22.2-2 «NP V ADVP-Middle»: agent=Patient |
| 2 | **mean** | present |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn intend-61.2-1 «NP V S\_INF»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |
| 3 | **manage** *not said to happen* | to-infinitive |  |  |  |  |  | without a good plan; somehow *property* | vn succeed-74-1-1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
My socks are in a muddle.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:muddle:x1:1
# text = My socks are in a muddle.
1	My	my	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Sing|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	2	nmod:poss	_	_
2	socks	sock	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	6	nsubj	_	_
3	are	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	6	cop	_	_
4	in	in	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
5	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	muddle	muddle	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | present | My socks |  |  | a muddle |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
I always muddle up «their» and «there».

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:muddle:x2:1
# text = I always muddle up «their» and «there».
1	I	I	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Sing|Person=1|PronType=Prs	3	nsubj	_	_
2	always	always	ADV	RB	PronType=Tot	3	advmod	_	_
3	muddle	muddle	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=1|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	up	up	ADP	RP	_	3	compound:prt	_	_
5	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	6	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	their	their	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Plur|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	3	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	3	punct	_	_
8	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	10	cc	_	_
9	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	10	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	there	there	ADV	RB	PronType=Dem	3	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	10	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **muddle up** | present | I | their *= they* |  |  |  | always *property* | vn amalgamate-22.2-2 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent their=Patient |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Grandpa gets muddled when he's tired.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:muddle:x3:1
# text = Grandpa gets muddled when he's tired.
1	Grandpa	grandpa	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj:pass	_	_
2	gets	get	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	3	aux:pass	_	_
3	muddled	muddle	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	_
4	when	when	SCONJ	WRB	_	7	mark	_	_
5	he	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	7	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	's	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	7	cop	_	_
7	tired	tired	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	advcl	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **muddle** | present · passive |  | Grandpa |  |  |  |  | vn amalgamate-22.2-2 «NP V NP»: subject=Patient |
| 2 | **is** | present | he |  |  |  |  | tired *property* | tree rules |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Don't muddle the numbers in your answer.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:muddle:x4:1
# text = Don't muddle the numbers in your answer.
1	Do	do	AUX	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	3	aux	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	n't	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	3	advmod	_	_
3	muddle	muddle	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	numbers	number	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	obj	_	_
6	in	in	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	your	your	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Person=2|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	8	nmod:poss	_	_
8	answer	answer	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **not** **muddle** | imperative · do-support | you *not said here* | the numbers |  | your answer |  |  | vn amalgamate-22.2-2 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent number=Patient |
| 2 | **answer** |  | your |  |  |  |  |  | nom answer «communication transitive»: poss=agent |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
We had no map but muddled through.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:muddle:x5:1
# text = We had no map but muddled through.
1	We	we	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=1|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	had	have	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=1|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	no	no	DET	DT	PronType=Neg	4	det	_	_
4	map	map	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
5	but	but	CCONJ	CC	_	6	cc	_	_
6	muddled	muddle	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=1|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	2	conj	_	_
7	through	through	ADV	RB	_	6	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **have** | past | We | no map |  |  |  |  | vn birth-28.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent map=Patient |
| 2 | **muddle through** | past | We *not said here* |  |  |  |  | through *property* | vn amalgamate-22.2-2 «NP V ADVP-Middle»: agent=Patient |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The twins are easy to muddle.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:muddle:x6:1
# text = The twins are easy to muddle.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	twins	twin	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	nsubj	_	_
3	are	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	cop	_	_
4	easy	easy	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	_
5	to	to	PART	TO	_	6	mark	_	_
6	muddle	muddle	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	4	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | present | the twins |  |  |  |  | easy *property* | tree rules |
| 2 | **muddle** | to-infinitive | the twins *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn amalgamate-22.2-2 «NP V ADVP-Middle»: agent=Patient |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The instructions were a total muddle.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:muddle:x7:1
# text = The instructions were a total muddle.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	instructions	instruction	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	6	nsubj	_	_
3	were	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	6	cop	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
5	total	total	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	amod	_	_
6	muddle	muddle	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | past | the instructions | a total muddle |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 8 {#x8}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Slow down so you don't get in a muddle with the sums.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:muddle:x8:1
# text = Slow down so you don't get in a muddle with the sums.
1	Slow	slow	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
2	down	down	ADP	RP	_	1	compound:prt	_	_
3	so	so	ADV	RB	_	7	advmod	_	_
4	you	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Person=2|PronType=Prs	7	nsubj	_	_
5	do	do	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=2|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	7	aux	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	n't	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	7	advmod	_	_
7	get	get	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	1	advcl	_	_
8	in	in	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
9	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
10	muddle	muddle	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	obl	_	_
11	with	with	ADP	IN	_	13	case	_	_
12	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	13	det	_	_
13	sums	sum	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	10	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **slow down** | imperative | you *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn other\_cos-45.4 «NP.patient V»: agent=Patient |
| 2 | **not** **get** | present · do-support | you |  |  | a muddle with the sums |  |  | vn comprehend-87.2-1 «NP V S\_ING»: agent=Experiencer |

<!-- div src -->

**Text:** the school dictionary of Mova's schools (`world/data/dictionary-schools/`), written for Mova. **Trees:** Mova's own parse — the `en` model on the CPU, when the site is built — not checked by a teacher; they may be wrong. **Frames:** Mova's frames reader (`prag`), each meaning and example read on its own. Elamur Cosmic License.

<!-- /div -->

<!-- pn -->
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