mix-up
noun
a confused state of things; muddle; tangle.
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mix-up
American
[miks-uhp]
/ ˈmɪksˌʌp /
noun
-
a confused state of things; muddle; tangle.
-
a fight.
mix-up
British
noun
-
a confused condition or situation
-
informal a fight
verb
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to make into a mixture
to mix up ingredients
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to confuse or confound
Tom mixes John up with Bill
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(often passive) to put (someone) into a state of confusion
I'm all mixed up
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to involve (in an activity or group, esp one that is illegal)
why did you get mixed up in that drugs racket?
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informal to fight
mix up
Idioms
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Confuse, confound, as in His explanation just mixed me up even more , or I always mix up the twins . [c. 1800]
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Involve or implicate. This usage is usually put in the passive, as in He got mixed up with the wrong crowd . [Mid-1800s]
Etymology
Origin of mix-up
First recorded in 1835–45; noun use of verb phrase mix up
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
United Airlines helped re-route Calderón to Nicaragua — and the airline did bump up his seat to first class to make up for the mix-up.
From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 12, 2026
The breed mix-up has also thrown a wrench in the prosecution’s case against Godfrey Jalale, a 64-year-old retired military officer who had been Chakwera’s deputy chief of staff.
From The Wall Street Journal • Jan. 13, 2026
When asked to comment on the apparent mix-up, a Groq spokesperson referred to the company’s blog post, which they said “includes the factual terms of the agreement.”
From MarketWatch • Dec. 24, 2025
Scottish rock band Biffy Clyro have postponed their US tour less than a week before it was due to begin, due to a mix-up in their visas.
From BBC • Nov. 27, 2025
When it’s quiet enough to talk again, Mom thankfully starts telling a story about dealing with a room mix-up at the hotel.
From "Muffled" by Jennifer Gennari
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
