noun · rare

imbroglio

im·bro·glio

imbroglio · imbroglios · imbrogli

A complicated situationA complicated situation; an entanglement.

UK/ɪmˈbɹəʊljəʊ/US/ɪmˈbɹoʊljoʊ/

» I had a severe imbroglio with my girlfriend concerning her uncle's gluten sensitivities for the upcoming dinner.

Meaning

1 senses

A complicated situation; an entanglement.

More definitions

a very embarrassing misunderstanding
an intricate and confusing interpersonal or political situation

Examples

1 sentences

I had a severe imbroglio with my girlfriend concerning her uncle's gluten sensitivities for the upcoming dinner.
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Origin

Borrowed from Italian imbroglio (“tangle, entanglement, muddle”) (im-, alternative form of

Borrowed from Italian imbroglio (“tangle, entanglement, muddle”) (im-, alternative form of in- (prefix forming verbs denoting derivation) + broglio (“confusion; intrigue, fraud, rigging, stuffing”); see also imbrogliare (“to tangle”)), cognate with and probably from an earlier form of French embrouiller (“to embroil, muddle”) (em- (“em-”), a form of en- (“en-”, prefix meaning ‘caused’) + brouiller (“to confuse, mix up”)). Doublet of embroil.

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