- (intr, adverb) chiefly Brit to succeed in some undertaking in spite of lack of organization
Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::
muddle through vb
mud•dle /ˈmʌdəl/USA pronunciation
v., -dled, -dling, n.
v.
n. [countable* singular]
WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2022v.
- to mix up in a confused manner: [~ + object]Most of my papers had been muddled during my absence.[~ + up + object]Someone had muddled up the papers in his office.[~ + object + up]Someone had muddled them up.
- to cause to become mentally confused:[~ + object]The five strong drinks had muddled him.
- muddle along, [no object] to think or act without planning or direction:Our company is just muddling along.
- muddle through, [no object] to reach a goal despite lack of knowledge, skill, or direction:We'll just have to muddle through as best we can.
n. [countable* singular]
- the state of being confused:in a muddle and unable to figure out which way to go.
- a confused or disordered state of affairs:a muddle of insurance forms.
mud•dle
(mud′l),USA pronunciation v., -dled, -dling, n.
v.t.
v.i.
n.
mud′dled•ness, mud′dle•ment, n.
mud′dling•ly, adv.
v.t.
- to mix up in a confused or bungling manner;
jumble. - to cause to become mentally confused.
- to cause to become confused or stupid with or as if with an intoxicating drink.
- to make muddy or turbid, as water.
- to mix or stir (a cocktail, chocolate, etc.).
- Ceramicsto smooth (clay) by rubbing it on glass.
v.i.
- to behave, proceed, or think in a confused or aimless fashion or with an air of improvisation:Some people just muddle along, waiting for their big break.
- muddle through, to achieve a certain degree of success but without much skill, polish, experience, or direction:None of us knew much about staging a variety show, so we just had to muddle through.
n.
- the state or condition of being muddled, esp. a confused mental state.
- a confused, disordered, or embarrassing condition;
mess.
- 1540–50; mud + -le; cognate with Middle Dutch moddelen to muddy
mud′dling•ly, adv.
- 1.See corresponding entry in Unabridged confuse, botch, bungle, spoil.
'muddle through' also found in these entries (note: many are not synonyms or translations):