muddle through

mud·dle  (mdl)

v. mud·dled, mud·dling, mud·dles

v.tr.

1. To make turbid or muddy.

2. To mix confusedly; jumble.

3. To confuse or befuddle (the mind), as with alcohol. See Synonyms at confuse.

4. To mismanage or bungle.

5. To stir or mix (a drink) gently.

v.intr.

To think, act, or proceed in a confused or aimless manner: muddled along through my high-school years.

n.

1. A disordered condition; a mess or jumble.

2. Mental confusion.

Phrasal Verb:

muddle through

To push on to a favorable outcome in a disorganized way.

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[Possibly from obsolete Dutch moddelen, to make water muddy, from Middle Dutch, frequentative of *modden, to make muddy, from modde, mud.]

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muddler n.

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muddle through

Verb

to succeed in spite of lack of organization