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Muddy the Waters – Idiom, Meaning, and Origin

Muddy the waters is an idiom that means creating confusion about something. It could be as simple as a take-out order or as complicated as instructions given by your boss. Idioms like this are popular sayings that aren’t meant to be literal. They play such a huge role in the English language in terms of expression, giving us a way to convey complex ideas in a simple way. If you’re wondering how to properly use this expression, I’ll provide a …

Mother of all and granddaddy of all

by Grammarist

The mother of all and the granddaddy of all are idioms that are very close in meaning, but with a subtle difference. We will examine the meanings of the idioms mother of all and granddaddy of all, where they came from, and some examples of their use in sentences. The mother of all is an idiom that means the greatest, the most important, the ultimate example of something. For instance, one may say that Katrina was the mother of all …

What Is a Mulligan? – Origin & Meaning

by Candace Osmond

Mulligan isn’t just a term used in the sport of golf. It actually has a deeper, metaphorical meaning and can be applied to different contexts. If you want to discover how to use the word mulligan, I’ll break down all the details right here and share some sentence examples. Unraveling the Meaning of Mulligan In the sporting world, specifically golf, a mulligan is like a do-over or a second chance after a poor shot. It makes it so it’s like …

Mop the Floor (With Someone) — Meaning, Uses, and Examples

by Danielle McLeod

To mop the floor with someone refers to the act of thoroughly defeating someone in a competition. Essentially, it suggests a victory so complete that the defeated party has nothing left to offer. This idiom, an important element of American slang, is often used to express complete domination over an adversary. Idioms, such as mop the floor, are fixed expressions or phrases in which the overall meaning is different from the literal meaning of the individual words. They are a …

A means to an end

by Grammarist

A means to an end is an idiom with an uncertain origin. We will examine the meaning of the idiomatic phrase a means to an end, where it came from, and some examples of its use in sentences. A means to an end refers to an action or strategy that is a method to achieve a higher goal. The means in this phrase is something that is not, in itself, valued; however, it must be accomplished or endured to achieve …

Mixed bag

by Grammarist

Mixed bag is an idiom. We will examine the meaning of the idiomatic phrase mixed bag, where it came from, and some examples of its use in sentences. A mixed bag describes a set of items or a situation that consists of a random assortment. A mixed bag usually contains positive and negative aspects, items that are unrelated or only tangentially related, or items that must be dealt with in different ways. The term mixed bag is an idiom that …

Mind vs mined

by Grammarist

Mind and mined are two commonly confused words that are pronounced in the same way but are spelled differently and have different meanings, which makes them homophones. We will examine the different meanings of the homophonic words mind and mined, the word origin of the terms, and some examples of their English usage in sentences. The noun mind means the consciousness that allows a human to think, feel, and process his experience of the world. The mind is the person’s …

Me vs. Mi

by Grammarist

Me and mi are two commonly confused words that are pronounced in the same way but are spelled differently and have different meanings, which makes them homophones. We will examine the different meanings of the homophonic words me and mi, the word origin of the terms, and some examples of their English usage in sentences. Me is an object pronoun and is used as an object of a sentence. The object of a sentence is the person or thing that …

Mask vs. Masque

by Grammarist

Mask and masque are two commonly confused words that are pronounced in the same way but are spelled differently and have different meanings, which makes them homophones. We will examine the different meanings of the homophonic words mask and masque, the word origin of the terms, and some examples of their English usage in sentences. A mask is a device that covers or partially covers one’s face. A mask may be worn to disguise one’s identity for criminal purposes, for …

Mark vs marque

by Grammarist

Mark and marque are two commonly confused words that are pronounced in the same way but are spelled differently and have different meanings, which makes them homophones. We will examine the different meanings of the homophonic words mark and marque, the word origin of the terms, and some examples of their English usage in sentences. A mark is a spot or blemish on the surface of something, a figure or line that denotes something on a map or document, a …

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