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mix
mix apples and oranges
To combine or compare two different things. You can't compare your job as a nurse to mine as an engineer—that's mixing apples and oranges!
confuse (someone) with (someone else)
and confuse (something) with (something else)to mix someone up with someone else; to mistake someone or something with something else. I'm afraid you have confused me with my brother. Don't confuse the old ones with the new ones.
mistake (someone) for (someone else)
and mix (someone) up with (someone else)to confuse someone with someone else; to think that one person is another person. I'm sorry. I mistook you for John. Tom is always mistaking Bill for me. We don't look a thing alike, though. Try not to mix Bill up with Bob, his twin.
mistake (something) for (something else)
and mix (something) up with (something else)to confuse two things with each other. Please don't mix this idea up with that one. I mistook my book for yours.
mix and match
1. to assemble a limited number of items, usually clothing, in a number of different ways. Alice learned to mix and match her skirts, blouses, and sweaters so that she always could be attractively dressed on a limited budget. Gary always bought black, blue, and gray trousers and shirts so he could mix and match without too many bad combinations.
2. to select a number of items from an assortment, often in order to get a quantity discount. (As opposed to getting a quantity discount for buying a lot of only one item.) The candles were 25 percent off, and you could mix and match colors, sizes, and length. I found a good sale on shirts. They were four for fifty dollars, and the store would let you mix and match.
mix in (with someone or something)
to mix or combine with people or substances. The band came down from the stage and mixed in with the guests during the break. The eggs won't mix in with the shortening!
mix it up (with someone)
to fight with someone; to quarrel with someone. Wilbur and Walt mixed it up for a while, and then things calmed down. Richard came out of the shop and began to mix it up with Walt.
mix someone or something into something
and mix someone or something into combine someone or something into something. We will try to mix the new people into the group. We will mix in the new people a few at a time.
mix someone up
to confuse someone. Please don't ask questions now; you'll mix me up! You mixed up the speaker with your question.
mix someone up in something
to get someone involved in something. Please don't mix me up in this problem. Walter mixed up his daughter in the sordid affair.
mix someone up with someone else Go to mistake someone for someone
else.
mix something up
to bring something into disorder; to throw something into a state of confusion. Don't mix up the papers on my desk. He mixes up things in his eagerness to speak.
mix something up
(with something) 1. to mix or stir something using a mixing or stirring device. He mixed the batter up with a spoon. First, mix up the batter.
2. to combine substances and mix them together. Please mix the egg up with the sugar first. Please mix up the egg with the sugar.
mix something up with something else Go to mistake something for something
else.
mix with someone or something
to mix socially with someone or a group. Tom dislikes Bill and Ted so much that he could never mix with them socially. She finds it difficult to mix with friends.
mix with something
[for a substance] to combine with a substance. Will this pigment mix with water? Water will not mix with oil.
mix business with pleasure
to combine work and social activities Weekend getaways that allow you to mix business with pleasure have become fashionable.
mistake somebody/something for somebody/something
to think that a person or thing is really someone or something else The prison buildings could almost be mistaken for a college campus.
mix and match
to combine things that are not related You can mix and match desks, bookcases, and other office furniture to fit your needs.
mix it up
1. to compete in an active, physical way Shaffer was aggressive and didn't mind mixing it up when she had to.
2. to argue or exchange criticisms She was a top TV news reporter, and she could mix it up with anyone, no matter how important they were.
mix up somebody/something
also mix somebody/something up to confuse one person or thing with another Mrs. Albert was always mixing up the two boys even though they didn't look very much alike. I mixed the appointment up and went for a haircut on the wrong day.
mix something up
also mix up something to put something in the wrong order or place If you mix the photos up in these envelopes I'll never find them.
mix business with pleasure
to combine work with social activities or enjoyment (usually negative) Let's keep this relationship strictly professional. I prefer not to mix business with pleasure.
mix it
(American & Australian informal) also mix it up (American informal) to fight or argue Don't take any notice of Sally. She just likes to mix it. He was seen mixing it up in a brawl after the game.
pick and mix
(British) to combine things that are not similar, especially things that do not go well together
Usage notes: Pick'n'mix is a system in shops where people can choose a few of several different types of sweets.
Increasingly, students are being given total freedom to pick and mix different modules on their courses. mistake for
Take someone or something for someone or something else, as in I'm sorry, I mistook you for her sister, or Don't mistake that friendly smile for good intentions; he's a tough competitor. [c. 1600]
mix and match
Combine different items in a number of ways. For example, The store displayed skirts, blouses, and slacks in colors that one could mix and match. [Mid-1900s]
mix it up
Get in a fight, as in The driver got out and began to mix it up with the other driver. This expression uses mix in referring to physical mingling. [c. 1900]
mix up
1. Confuse, confound, as in His explanation just mixed me up even more, or I always mix up the twins. [c. 1800]
2. Involve or implicate. This usage is usually put in the passive, as in He got mixed up with the wrong crowd. [Mid-1800s]
mistake for
v. To wrongly perceive that someone or something is someone or something else: I'm sorry to have bothered you—I mistook you for a friend of mine. Don't mistake the poison ivy for a box elder vine!
mix down
v.1. To combine all of the audio components of some recording into a single final soundtrack or mix: We recorded the last guitar part toward the end of the song, and now we can mix the song down. It can be difficult to mix down 24 tracks.
2. To reduce the volume of some component of an electrical or audio signal relative to other components: The drums sounded too loud in the recording studio, so we mixed them down. The sound engineer mixed down the vocals.
mix up
v.1. To cause the elements of something to be intermingled: Mix up the eggs and sugar before you pour them into the flour. Mix the batter up thoroughly before pouring it into the pan.
2. To prepare something by mixing: I mixed some eggs up for breakfast. I mixed up a cake for her birthday.
3. To confuse someone; confound someone: His explanation just mixed me up more. The confusing directions mixed up all the party guests.
4. To mistake something or someone for something or someone else: I always mix up the twins. I mixed the twins up because they were wearing the same thing.
5. To involve or implicate someone in the activities of someone or something, especially something negative: Don't mix yourself up with that crowd. She mixed him up in the whole mess. He got mixed up with the wrong people.
6. To increase the volume of some component of an electrical or audio signal relative to other components: Your singing sounds too quiet—we should mix it up. Mix up the microphones when the announcer begins speaking.
mix it up (with someone)
tv. to fight with someone; to quarrel with someone. Max came out of the shop and began to mix it up with Mooshoo.
mix it up
verb mix it up
Slang To fight.