Although the evidence against the suspect was overwhelming, he continued to argue loudly in court, hoping that by muddying the waters, the judge would become confused and doubt the clear facts.What does the underlined idiom mean?
Correct answer: B. To create confusion deliberately
- A. To clean a dirty situation
- B. To create confusion deliberately
- C. To hide physical evidence
- D. To prove innocence clearly
Explanation
The correct answer is B: 'To create confusion deliberately.' The idiom 'muddying the waters' refers to making a situation more complicated or unclear, often intentionally, in order to confuse others or cloud the truth. In this context, the suspect's loud arguments serve to distract from the overwhelming evidence against him, highlighting his intent to create doubt. The other options misinterpret the idiom: A suggests cleaning up a situation (opposite meaning), C implies hiding evidence without the nuance of confusion, and D implies clarity which contradicts the idiomatic meaning.
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