muddle through
phrasal verb·1 sense·particle through
Meanings
Get through despite confusion or difficulty
Why “through”? You start a task and continue until it is completely finished.
“Somehow we muddled through the exam.”
“The new team muddled through the first shift.”
Don't confuse with
Muddle through means get through despite confusion or difficulty. Muddle up means confuse two or more things, often by mistaking one for the other.
Test yourself
“Somehow we muddled through the exam.” What does it mean?
Nearby in the meaning map
Sink In connects verbs by particle pattern, contrast pairs, and shared base verbs.
muddle up
A contrast learners often mix up
Confuse two or more things, often by mistaking one for the other
be through
Same through pattern: finishing
Have finished something
break through
Same through pattern: finishing
Cut into a broadcast or transmission; Force a way through an obstacle or barrier; Achieve success after a period of effort
carry through
Same through pattern: finishing
Complete what was promised
come through
Same through pattern: finishing
Survive a difficult or dangerous experience; Do what was expected or hoped for; Arrive at its destination, especially a message, call, or delivery
fall through
Same through pattern: finishing
Fail to happen or be completed
follow through
Same through pattern: finishing
Carry an action to its proper conclusion
get through
Same through pattern: finishing
Finish a difficult task or period; Survive a hard time; Make contact by phone; Use up a quantity of something; Pass a test or selection process; Finally make a person understand or accept an idea after difficulty
Sink In — iOS & Android
Practice “muddle through” in Sink In
Drill “muddle through” and 1,300+ other phrasal verbs with spaced repetition, organised by the particle patterns that connect them.
- Learn the pattern behind dozens of verbs at once — not one-off translations.
- Spaced repetition (SM-2) brings each meaning back right before you forget.
- Four practice modes train recall and discrimination, not just recognition.
