1 B2 idiomatic informal
To make a situation or issue more confusing or complicated than necessary.
"Introducing new regulations at this stage will only muddy up an already complex debate."
separable
muddy up
B2 informal separable transitive
To make something physically muddy or to make a situation more complicated and confusing.
In plain English
To make something dirty with mud, or to make an issue harder to understand.
What does "muddy up" mean?
2 meanings, ordered from most common to least. Color-coded by CEFR level.
2 B1 informal
To make something physically dirty with mud.
"The kids came in and muddied up the whole kitchen floor."
separable
Literal vs figurative
Words literally mean
To cover something with mud — the figurative extension to 'making things murky' is intuitive.
Actually means
To make something dirty with mud, or to make an issue harder to understand.
Usage tip
The figurative sense is common in political and media discussions, as in 'muddy the waters.' 'Muddy up' is a slightly more emphatic or colloquial variant of the same idea. The literal sense is less frequent.
Words that pair with "muddy up"
Natural word combinations native speakers use most often.
waters issue situation picture debate boots
How to conjugate "muddy up"
The five tense forms you'll use most often.
Base
muddy up
I/you/we/they
3rd person
muddies up
he/she/it
Past simple
muddied up
yesterday
Past participle
muddied up
have + pp
-ing form
muddying up
continuous
Hear "muddy up" in the wild
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Other ways to say "muddy up"
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