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obscure the issue

[/əbˈskjʊr ðə ˈɪʃuː/]
verb phrase
obscurecer a questão; turvar a questão
1. To make an issue unclear or harder to understand; to deliberately confuse or hide the real problem
The politician tried to obscure the issue by discussing unrelated topics.
O político tentou obscurecer a questão discutindo tópicos não relacionados.
2. To divert attention away from the main point or core problem
Using technical jargon will only obscure the issue further.
Usar jargão técnico só vai turvar ainda mais a questão.
NYC Slang
muddy the waters; throw shade on the real problem
Synonyms
cloud the issuemuddy the watersconfuse the mattercomplicate the issuefog the issue
Antonyms
clarify the issueshed light onilluminate the problemclarifyexplain clearly

Regional Variations

General Brazilian
obscurecer a questão; turvar a questão
Standard usage in all Brazilian regions
Portugal
obscurecer a questão; turvar a matéria
Similar usage; sometimes 'turvar a matéria' is preferred

Related Idioms & Phrases

beat around the bush
throw up a smoke screen
change the subject
red herring
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