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troubled waters

American  

noun

(used with a plural verb)

  1. a confused or chaotic state of affairs.

    The situation was terrible, but like many politicians he was attracted by troubled waters.

Etymology

Origin of troubled waters

First recorded in 1575–85

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.

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