mixed message
20
4.9
- noun
- /mɪkst ˈmɛsɪdʒ/
- Informal
:
mensaje contradictorio
- The students may have also been receiving mixed messages.
- send mixed messages
- receive mixed messages
- give mixed messages
It's carried on through the mixed messaging on COVID during the Omicron wave.
- It's carried on through the mixed messaging on COVID during the Omicron wave.
- And you know what happens, It sends a mixed message to the consumer.
- It just shows you these mixed messages due to a lack of decent public health advice that's coming from HSAUK.
- Maybe we're getting such giant mixed messages from these fire hoses of information in disparate directions.
- Many are pointing out the mixed messages coming from regulators as the SEC approved Coinbase's direct listing last year, which is a little bit confusing.
- So I, I do think that young men are getting a lot of mixed messages at the same time.
- And so the boy is getting mixed messages about his own disposability, but that his own the, the, the risk of being disposable is, is what will make him a man.
Examples
-
"We live in a world of false expectations and mixed messages."
Academic text (1998) -
The politician's speech was filled with mixed messages, leaving the audience confused about his actual stance.
-
Kind of makes this a mixed message, then.
-
It's just a very mixed message.
-
So I, I do think that young men are getting a lot of mixed messages at the same time.
-
The students seem confused by the mixed messages they receive in classes.
Academic text (2002) -
The United States appeared to be sending mixed messages, however.
Academic text (1999) -
I mean, they gave these mixed messages, which were crazy-making.
-
You're sending me mixed messages here.
-
Many are pointing out the mixed messages coming from regulators as the SEC approved Coinbase's direct listing last year, which is a little bit confusing.
Synonyms
57
6.3
A lack of clear meaning that allows people to understand it in different ways
A situation where something has more than one meaning and causes confusion
Antonyms
5
2.1
A message that clearly shows someone's opinion or decision and is easy to understand
How Confusing
- Informal
20
4.9
5
2.1
Surface Forms
Morphology
The meaning is directly and compositionally derived from 'mixed' (combined, inconsistent) modifying 'message' (a communication), signalling that the communication contains conflicting or unclear elements. This adjective+noun pattern is cross-linguistically common, so a B1 learner who knows both words would very likely infer the intended meaning.
Etymology
The phrase mixed message comes from the image of a message being mixed with another, like two paints making a muddy color so you can't see the original clearly. That's why it means 'unclear' or 'contradictory' communication.