witch's brew
1
8.2
- noun
- /ˈwɪtʃɪz bru/
- Informal
:
mezcla peligrosa
- It's a witch's brew!
Examples
-
The new law is a witch's brew of confusing regulations and harsh penalties.
-
Their financial crisis resulted from a witch's brew of bad decisions and dishonest advice.
-
The media created a witch's brew of fear and misinformation during the epidemic.
-
This witch's brew is dangerous.
-
The investigation uncovered a witch's brew of corruption and deceit within the organization.
-
The country's economic troubles are a witch's brew of bad decisions and unforeseen circumstances.
-
Their relationship turned into a witch's brew of jealousy and mistrust after the incident.
Synonyms
212
6.6
A drink made to heal, harm, or cause magic
24
6.0
A food or drink made by mixing different things, often in a new way
14
7.3
A messy mixture of different things thrown together
A dangerous mix of different things that causes harm or trouble
A mix made from herbs to help health and ease sickness
How Dangerous
- Informal
4
4.3
- Informal
1
8.2
∞
1.0
24
6.0
98
2.3
58
1.2
Surface Forms
Morphology
witch's + brew
The meaning is directly derivable from 'witch' (a magical or malevolent agent) + 'brew' (a concoction or mixture/potion); together they naturally evoke a dangerous or troubling mixture. This possessive-noun composition and the cultural stereotype of witches making harmful potions are common and familiar to B1 learners, making the expression immediately interpretable from its parts.
Etymology
Witch's brew comes from the picture of a witch stirring a steaming pot full of strange, often dangerous things, with witch's showing who makes it and brew meaning a mixed drink. So it now describes a 'dangerous or frightening mixture'.