сбитый с толку
sbityy s tolku
The English adjective confused is translated into Russian as сбитый с толку (sbityy s tolku).
The phrase is used to describe a state of being unable to think clearly or understand.
Meaning: unable to think clearly or understand (adj)
Which one should you use?
While сбитый с толку implies being misled or thrown off course by a situation, the word запутавшийся implies being personally confused or tangled in a complex set of facts or circumstances.
How does it change in a sentence?
The phrase must agree in gender with the noun it describes. Use the feminine form сбитая с толку for feminine nouns, the neuter form сбитое с толку for neuter nouns and the plural form сбитые с толку for plural nouns.
How do you pronounce it?
sbityy s tolku
Did you know?
- To express that something is confusing or nonsensical, Russians may call it 'муть', which literally refers to 'muddy water' or 'turbidity'.
- While 'сбитый с толку' describes being misled, if you are confused by a difficult task, you might say you are 'в тупике', meaning you are 'in a dead end'.
- The noun version of the concept, 'запутанность', describes a 'tangledness'. This is used for both a person's confused state and a tangled ball of yarn or thread.
Examples in context
- Он был растерян и не знал, что делатьHe was confused and didn't know what to do.
- Я тут ничего не понимаю, все так странноI don't understand anything here, everything is so strange.
- Я в полной загвоздке и не могу найти выходI'm completely confused and can't find a way out.
- Я совсем запуталсяI am completely confused.
- Простите, но я не могу разобраться в направленияхExcuse me, but I can't figure out the directions.
- Я немного потерял нить разговораI have lost the thread of the conversation.
Example conversation
Ekaterina is explaining a complex map to Dmitry.
- Екатерина EkaterinaСмотри, нам нужно повернуть здесь.Smotri, nam nuzhno povernut' zdes'.Look, we need to turn here.
- Дмитрий DmitryЯ совсем сбитый с толку, где мы?Ya sovsem sbitiy s tolku, gde my?I am totally confused, where are we?
- Екатерина EkaterinaМы просто перешли на другую улицу.My prosto pereshli na druguyu ulitsu.We just crossed over to another street.
- Дмитрий DmitryТеперь я понимаю, спасибо, Катя.Teper' ya ponimayu, spasibo, Katya.Now I understand, thanks, Katya.
