con‧fu‧sion S3 W3 / kənfjuʒ ə n / 名词

1 [可数和不可数名词] when you do not understand what is happening or what something means because it is not clear

confusion about/over/as to

There was some confusion as to whether we had won or lost.

create/lead to confusion

The diversion led to considerable confusion .

2 [可数和不可数名词] a situation in which someone wrongly thinks that a person or thing is someone or something else :

To avoid confusion, the teams wore different colours.

confusion between

There is a confusion in the public mind between psychology and psychiatry.

3 [不可数名词] a feeling of not being able to think clearly about what you should say or do, especially in an embarrassing situation :

His confusion at meeting her there was quite apparent.

in confusion

Matt stared at her in confusion.

4 [可数和不可数名词] a very confusing situation, that usually has a lot of noise and action, so that it is difficult for someone to understand it or control it 同义词 chaos :

a scene of indescribable confusion

confusion of

There was a confusion of shouts and orders as the ship prepared to depart.

COLLOCATIONS

动词

cause/create confusion English spelling often causes confusion for learners.

lead to/result in confusion The differing instructions led to confusion.

add to the confusion (= make something more confusing ) There were a lot of rumours, which added to the confusion.

throw/plunge somebody into confusion The unexpected news threw us all into confusion.

clear up the confusion (= explain something more clearly ) The chairman said that he would try to clear up the confusion.

confusion arises (= begins ) The confusion arose because of a complete misunderstanding.

形容词

great confusion We looked at each other in great confusion.

complete/total/utter confusion Candy’s eyes showed her total confusion.

considerable confusion The movie jumps backwards and forwards in time, which causes considerable confusion.

general confusion There was general confusion about the effects of the new law.

mental confusion Mental confusion is one of the symptoms of the disease.

短语

a state of confusion People were in a state of confusion and close to panic.

(in order) to avoid confusion Doctors should explain their instructions to patients carefully, to avoid any confusion.