tangled
gb/tˈæŋɡəld/ us/tˈæŋɡəld/
B1
English
összegabalyodott, kusza, összeakadt
B1
1
Usage pattern:
[something] is tangled; tangled [noun]; tangled in [something]
My earbud wires were so tangled that I had to take my time to separate them.
A fülhallgatóm vezetékei annyira összegabalyodtak, hogy jó időbe telt kibogozni őket.
The kite string got tangled in the tree branches.
A sárkány zsinórja belegabalyodott a faágakba.
After the swim, her hair was tangled and full of sand.
Learner examples
My necklace is tangled.
Összegabalyodott a nyakláncom.
The cables are tangled.
A kábelek összegabalyodtak.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes use *tangled* for a single bend; it usually suggests a messy mix of twists or knots.
Meaning
twisted together in knots
Collocations
tangled hair
|tangled cable
|tangled wire
|tangled rope
|tangled string
|tangled necklace
|tangled earphones
|badly tangled
|hopelessly tangled
|get tangled
Synonyms
knotted (emphasizes actual knots.)
|
snarled (suggests a messy, hard-to-fix twist (often hair or wires).)
|
matted (often used for hair or fur packed together.)
|
twisted (more general; may be less messy than tangled.)
Antonyms
untangled (not caught in knots anymore.)
|
straight (not twisted or crossed.)
|
smooth (not messy or caught together (often hair or fabric).)
Themes
daily_life
|objects
|clothing
|home
Definition
Mixed up in knots so you can’t easily separate it.
Twisted together in a messy way so that the parts are caught and hard to separate.
B2
2
kusza
B2
Usage pattern:
a tangled [problem/situation/history/story]
The investigation uncovered a tangled set of financial dealings.
A vizsgálat pénzügyi ügyletek kusza hálóját tárta fel.
She gave a tangled explanation that left everyone confused.
Olyan kusza magyarázatot adott, hogy mindenki összezavarodott.
Their family has a tangled history that’s hard to summarize.
Learner examples
This problem is tangled.
Ez egy kusza probléma.
The story is tangled.
Kusza a történet.
Common mistake:
Don’t confuse *tangled* (complex/confusing) with *tangential* (only slightly related).
Meaning
complicated and hard to understand
Collocations
a tangled problem
|a tangled situation
|a tangled history
|a tangled plot
|a tangled web
|a tangled argument
|a tangled mess
|a tangled explanation
|tangled logic
|tangled details
Synonyms
complicated (general and very common.)
|
convoluted (suggests unnecessarily complex connections.)
|
messy (more informal; stresses disorder.)
|
complex (neutral; may sound more technical or neutral than tangled.)
Antonyms
straightforward (easy to understand or deal with.)
|
simple (not complicated.)
|
clear (easy to follow or understand.)
Themes
communication
|education
|work
|problems
Definition
Complicated and difficult to understand or deal with.
Complicated, confusing, or difficult to follow because many things are connected in a messy way.
B2
3
kusza
B2
Usage pattern:
tangled feelings; a tangled relationship; tangled with [someone]
He has tangled feelings about moving back home.
Kusza érzései vannak a hazaköltözéssel kapcsolatban.
Their tangled relationship made it hard to work together.
Kusza kapcsolatuk miatt nehéz volt együtt dolgozniuk.
She tried to step away from the tangled drama between her friends.
Learner examples
I have tangled feelings.
Kusza érzéseim vannak.
Their relationship is tangled.
Kusza a kapcsolatuk.
Common mistake:
*Tangled* and *entangled* are both possible here; *tangled* often feels more personal and messy.
Meaning
emotionally or socially complicated
Collocations
tangled feelings
|tangled emotions
|a tangled relationship
|tangled loyalties
|tangled friendships
|tangled personal life
|tangled past
|tangled connections
|tangled romance
|tangled affair
Synonyms
entangled (very close in meaning; often implies being caught in a difficult situation.)
|
involved (less negative; can simply mean connected.)
|
complicated (common and neutral.)
|
messy (informal; suggests trouble or drama.)
Antonyms
uncomplicated (no confusing emotional difficulties.)
|
detached (emotionally not involved.)
|
uninvolved (not connected to the situation or people.)
Themes
relationships
|emotions
|social_life
Definition
Having complicated feelings or relationships.
Involving complicated emotional connections or relationships that are difficult to separate or think about clearly.
B2
4
kusza
B2
Usage pattern:
tangled [undergrowth/vines/weeds/branches]
They pushed through tangled undergrowth to reach the river.
Átverekedték magukat a sűrű, kusza aljnövényzeten, hogy elérjék a folyót.
Tangled vines covered the old fence.
Kusza indák borították a régi kerítést.
A tangled thicket blocked the narrow trail.
Learner examples
The path has tangled bushes.
Az ösvény mellett kusza bokrok nőnek.
Tangled vines covered the wall.
Kusza indák borították a falat.
Common mistake:
Not usually used for a single plant; it typically describes many plants growing together.
Meaning
dense and interwoven growth
Collocations
tangled undergrowth
|tangled vines
|tangled weeds
|tangled branches
|tangled bushes
|tangled thicket
|tangled roots
|tangled brambles
|tangled forest
|tangled hedge
Synonyms
overgrown (emphasizes that it has grown too much.)
|
thick (general density, not necessarily interwoven.)
|
matted (stressed pressed-together growth (also hair/fur).)
|
dense (more neutral; focuses on closeness.)
Antonyms
cleared (vegetation removed.)
|
trimmed (cut back and made neat.)
|
open (not dense; easy to move through.)
Themes
nature
|outdoors
Definition
Growing in a thick, mixed way that is hard to go through.
Growing thickly and interwoven, making it hard to see through or move through.
C1
5
összeakadt
B1
Usage pattern:
tangled with [someone/something]
The two players fell and ended up tangled on the ground.
A két játékos elesett, és összegabalyodva kötöttek ki a földön.
His feet got tangled with the defender’s as he tried to shoot.
Ahogy lőni próbált, összeakadt a lába a védőjátékoséval.
They were tangled together for a moment before the referee stepped in.
Learner examples
The players were tangled together.
A játékosok össze voltak gabalyodva.
His legs got tangled with mine.
A lába összeakadt az enyémmel.
Common mistake:
In this sense, *tangled* is less common than *grappling* or *wrestling*, and usually describes a moment in a struggle.
Meaning
locked in a physical struggle
Collocations
tangled with an opponent
|tangled together
|tangled in a struggle
|tangled on the ground
|tangled in a fight
|tangled limbs
|tangled bodies
|tangled with defenders
|tangled in the net
|tangled with police
Synonyms
grappling (common in sports; emphasizes gripping and struggling.)
|
wrestling (suggests a sustained physical contest.)
|
locked (emphasizes being stuck together.)
Antonyms
disengaged (separated and no longer in contact.)
|
apart (not physically caught together.)
Themes
sports
|conflict
Definition
Holding and twisting together while fighting.
Closely caught together with someone or something in a physical struggle, so movement is restricted.
Grammar
Dictionary form
tangled
IPA
GB/tˈæŋɡəld/
US/tˈæŋɡəld/
Syllables & stress
tangled (1 syllable)
Stress on 1st syllable (tangled)
Word forms
Adjective
- Base: tangled
Expressions
a tangled web
1/ə tˈæŋɡəld wˈɛb/
idiom
A complicated, tricky situation
A very complex and confusing situation, often with lies or secrets.
Examples
- He created a tangled web of deceit that was hard to escape.
- The movie tells the story of a tangled web of family drama.
a tangled web
1/ə tˈæŋɡəld wˈɛb/
idiom
complex situation, often from lies
A complicated situation with many connected problems, often caused by lying.
Examples
- The journalist uncovered a tangled web of lies behind the scandal.
- By the end of the series, the characters were caught in a tangled web of secrets.
- One small lie can grow into a tangled web that’s hard to escape.
Learner examples
- It became a tangled web of lies.
- They were trapped in a tangled web.
all tangled up
1/ˈɔl tˈæŋɡəld ˈʌp/
fixed phrase
informal
confused or emotionally mixed up
Confused or upset because things feel complicated.
Examples
- I’m all tangled up about what to do next.
- He got all tangled up trying to explain his reasons.
- She’s all tangled up in guilt and can’t relax.
Learner examples
- I feel all tangled up.
- He is all tangled up about it.
get tangled up in [something]
1/ɡˈɛt tˈæŋɡəld ˈʌp ˈɪn sˈʌmθɪŋ/
phrasal verb
become involved in trouble
To get involved in a difficult situation.
Examples
- He got tangled up in a long dispute with his landlord.
- She got tangled up in office politics and regretted it.
- The company got tangled up in a legal battle that lasted years.
Learner examples
- I don’t want to get tangled up in this.
- He got tangled up in problems.
get tangled up with [someone]
1/ɡˈɛt tˈæŋɡəld ˈʌp wˈɪθ sˈʌmwˌʌn/
phrasal verb
get involved with a person
To get involved with a person and have problems because of it.
Examples
- She got tangled up with people who were always looking for a fight.
- He got tangled up with an older crowd and started skipping school.
- I don’t want to get tangled up with him again.
Learner examples
- He got tangled up with bad friends.
- She got tangled up with the wrong person.