mix-up

[ miks-uhp ]

noun

1. a confused state of things; muddle; tangle.
2. a fight.

mix-up

noun

1. a confused condition or situation
2. informal.
   a fight

verb

1. to make into a mixture

   to mix up ingredients

2. to confuse or confound

   Tom mixes John up with Bill

3. often passive to put (someone) into a state of confusion

   I'm all mixed up

4. foll byin or with; usually passive to involve (in an activity or group, esp one that is illegal)

   why did you get mixed up in that drugs racket?

5. mix it up informal.
   mix it up to fight

Word History and Origins

Origin of mix-up¹

First recorded in 1835–45; noun use of verb phrase mix up

Example Sentences

You mix up English working-class gruffness with African-American soul from the Deep South.

From The Daily Beast

An accidental mix-up of measles vaccine and a common muscle relaxer killed at least 15 Syrian children, and possibly many more.

From The Daily Beast

She said she has tried to contact Twitter about the mix up, but thus far the number she has been calling has been a fax line.

From The Daily Beast

Admitting—gasp—that his PR guy lied about the “medication mix-up”?!?

From The Daily Beast

“The shoe has become the ‘it’ accessory to mix up wardrobes,” said Ken Downing, Senior VP and Fashion Director of Neiman Marcus.

From The Daily Beast

This was the cause of the mix-up of his Division which Stopford, no doubt, would take in hand as soon as he could.

From Project Gutenberg

I judged the bodyguard met them just above here, and there was a grand mix-up, but we couldn't see well at the distance.

From Project Gutenberg

Instantly there was a mix-up, with bellowing, plunging steers all about him.

From Project Gutenberg

He was telling the Professor about your mix-up with Lumpy Bates.

From Project Gutenberg

He met him a night or two later at the Umballa Club, and a strange emotional mix-up resulted.

From Project Gutenberg