Words / C2

im-BROHL-ee-oh/ɪmˈbrəʊliəʊ/

An imbroglio is a complicated, confusing, and embarrassing situation: a diplomatic imbroglio, caught in an imbroglio. A mess (already in the dictionary) is everyday untidy trouble; a predicament (already in the dictionary) is a hard situation to get out of, and a fiasco (already in the dictionary) is a complete humiliating failure. A maelstrom (already in the dictionary) is a violent swirl. Biscuits are not a flame-risk close-out.

Meaning

A complicated, confusing, and embarrassing situation.

Examples

• “An imbroglio over biscuits is not a flame-risk close-out.”
• “A mess is everyday trouble (already in A2). A predicament is a hard situation (already in C1). A fiasco is a complete failure (already in C1). A maelstrom is a violent swirl (already in C2). Taste at a gala can be exact. Taste instead of a dated flame-risk line is noise. Name the owner of the door; leave the menu for the social.”

Good to know

A tangled embarrassing mess. Everyday: mess (already in this dictionary). Close: predicament / fiasco (already in C1). Contrast: maelstrom (a swirl — already in C2). Biscuits ≠ a flame.

Near in meaning

tangle, predicament, muddle, fiasco

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