confuse

Everyday

1. To confuse someone is to make them unable to understand or think clearly: «The instructions confused me.» tree →
2. To confuse two things is to mix them up and think one is the other: «I always confuse the twins.» tree →
3. To confuse a situation is to make it more complicated or unclear. tree →

In the lessons

In school, some words are easily confused (their/there/they're; affect/effect), and maths symbols can be confused (× and +, < and >). In stories, a mysterious clue confuses the detective. In safety lessons, scammers try to confuse people with tricky messages. Phrases: «confuse A with B», «get confused», «confusing instructions».

Examples

• The long question confused me. tree →
• I always confuse «there» and «their». tree →
• Don't confuse a centipede with a millipede. tree →
• The new road signs confused the drivers. tree →
• People often confuse the twins. tree →
• The magician confused the audience with his trick. tree →
• I got confused and went to the wrong classroom. tree →
• If you are confused, ask the teacher to explain again. tree →
• ‘You confuse the names, Sire,’ said the page hastily. ‘I come on behalf of the Princess Turritella.’ tree →

Note

Past: confused. Adjectives: confused (how you feel: «I am confused»), confusing (what causes it: «the map is confusing»). Noun: confusion. Pattern: «confuse A with B». Asking questions when confused is a smart thing to do.

In Jewish tradition

In school, some words are easily confused (their/there/they're; affect/effect), and maths symbols can be confused (× and +, < and >). In stories, a mysterious clue confuses the detective. In safety lessons, scammers try to confuse people with tricky messages. Phrases: «confuse A with B», «get confused», «confusing instructions».

Examples

• This is certainly an editorial error, confusing a Chet for a Taw. (Sefer Yetzirah, Sefaria community translation) tree →

Note

Past: confused. Adjectives: confused (how you feel: «I am confused»), confusing (what causes it: «the map is confusing»). Noun: confusion. Pattern: «confuse A with B». Asking questions when confused is a smart thing to do.