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confusion

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confusion worse confounded

Confusion made worse. Recess was already underway when the fire alarm rang, leading to confusion worse confounded. Trying to wrangle all those kids was certainly a chore!

See also: confusion, worse

smoke and mirrors

deception and confusion. (Said of statements or more complicated rhetoric used to mislead people rather than inform. Alludes to the way a magician uses optical illusion to create believability while performing a trick. Fixed order.) Most people know that the politician was just using smoke and mirrors to make things look better than they really were. Her report was little more than smoke and mirrors. No one will believe any of it.

See also: and, mirror, smoke

throw someone or something into confusion

to cause people or a process to become confused, aimless, or disorderly. She made her entrance early and threw eveyone onstage into confusion. The judge's surprise ruling threw the courtroom into confusion.

See also: confusion, throw

smoke and mirrors

something that is meant to confuse or deceive people Is this crisis just so much smoke and mirrors, or is it true that the government will run out of money?

Usage notes: usually involving a large organization rather than only one person

See also: and, mirror, smoke

smoke and mirrors

  (American & Australian)

something which is intended to confuse or deceive people, especially by making them believe that a situation is better than it really is Smoke and mirrors made the company seem bigger and healthier than it really was. It was just clever marketing.

See also: and, mirror, smoke

smoke and mirrors

n. a strategy of deception and cover up. Her entire report was nothing but smoke and mirrors. Who could believe any of it?

See also: and, mirror, smoke

smoke and mirrors

Something that deceives or distorts the truth: Your explanation is nothing but smoke and mirrors.

See also: and, mirror, smoke