murky waters
Unclear, turbid liquid
Murky waters are waters that are dark, cloudy, and difficult to see through—whether from sediment, algae, or pollution.
The phrase appears far more often figuratively, describing situations that are unclear, complicated, or potentially dangerous: The investigation led detectives into murky waters.
To wade into murky waters is to enter uncertain or ethically questionable territory.
- cloudyObscured by atmosphere
- turbidClouded by particles
- swampWaterlogged land with vegetation
- sedimentParticles settling in liquid
- depthsLowest or innermost regions
deep end · beneath the surface · unclear · shadowy · opaque · mysterious · fog · fishing expedition · silt · muddy · dark · stagnant · obscure · uncharted territory · brackish · pond · dim · uncertain
- gray areasgray areas, fuzzy boundaries, ambiguities, fine lines, middle ground
- uncertaintyuncertainty, uncertain, unknown, unsure, unclear
- borderlandsborderland, borderlands, border, border zone, border region
murky waterscrystal clear waters
Perfectly transparent body of liquid
clear waters · crystal-clear waters · pristine waters · sparkling waters
murky watersclear waters
Unpolluted, transparent liquid bodies
plain sailing · black and white · safe harbor · solid ground · firm footing
murky watersclear waters
Unpolluted, transparent liquid bodies
open book · plain sailing · above board · nothing to hide · clarity
murk, murky, murkier, murkiest, murkily, murkiness, water, waters, watery