tangle
Translation
tangle, knot, mess, muddle
Examples
My headphone wires are in a tangle.
My headphone wires are in a tangle.
The legal system is a tangle of rules.
The legal system is a tangle of rules.
Grammar Patterns
a ((tangle)) of (sth.) a confused mass of (sth.) The legal system is a tangle of rules.
in a ((tangle)) in a confused or knotted state My headphone wires are in a tangle.
Similar Words
Synonyms: knot, snarl, mess, muddle; Antonyms: order, simplicity
Etymology
Possibly from a Scandinavian source, related to 'tangle' (seaweed). The idea is of things being twisted together like seaweed.
Memory Tips
Picture a tangled ball of yarn. It's a visual representation of both a physical and a metaphorical 'tangle'.