muddle through
verbUK /ˈmʌdl̩ θɹuː/ · US /ˈmʌd(ə)l θɹu/
Etymology From muddle (“to think and act in a confused, aimless way”) + through.
1
Ambitransitive To succeed (often clumsily) despite being ill-equipped or inadequately trained.
- I’ve only had a few lessons, but I can muddle through the test.
- Someday soon we all will be together / If the fates allow. / Until then we'll have to muddle through somehow. / So have yourself a merry little Christmas now.1943 (date written), “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas”, in Ralph Blane (lyrics), Hugh Martin (music), Meet Me in St. Louis (soundtrack; 1944), performed by Judy Garland:
1 more example
- If Labour's senior team thinks that it can just muddle through to the next election without a coherent plan about how to tackle the problems of the industry, it is making a big mistake.2023 March 8, Christian Wolmar, “Labour passes up the chance to deliver a forceful rail policy”, in RAIL, number 978, page 34: