misdirect
/'misdi'rekt/
Học thuậtThân thiện
Definition
- Verb:
- To give wrong directions or guidance: To lead someone or something in an incorrect direction, either physically or figuratively.
- To address incorrectly: To put a wrong address on a piece of mail or a parcel.
- To use or apply wrongly: To direct one's efforts, energies, or abilities toward an incorrect or unproductive goal.
- To corrupt or lead astray morally: To exert a bad influence, leading someone toward immoral or corrupt behavior. (This meaning is less common and more formal.)
Examples of Usage
- Verb:
- The construction signs misdirected traffic, causing a huge jam.
- I'm afraid the post office misdirected my package; it was sent to the wrong state.
- He misdirected his anger at his family instead of addressing the real problem at work.
- The film was accused of misdirecting young audiences with its glamorous portrayal of crime.
Advanced Usage
- Legal/Judicial Context: In law, a "misdirected verdict" is one where a jury has been given incorrect legal instructions by a judge.
- The appeal was granted due to a misdirected jury.
- Theatrical/Performance Context: To direct a play, film, or performance poorly.
- Critics panned the production, claiming the veteran director had completely misdirected the actors.
Variants and Related Words
- Misdirection (noun): The action of misdirecting someone or something.
- The magician's skill relied on the clever misdirection of the audience's attention.
- Misdirected (adjective): Describing something that has been sent or guided incorrectly.
- Please return any misdirected mail to the sender.
Synonyms
- Mislead: To cause someone to have a wrong idea or impression.
- Misinform: To give someone false or inaccurate information.
- Mismanage: To manage or handle something badly or inefficiently (related to the "use wrongly" sense).
Related Phrasal Verbs/Phrases
(Note: "Misdirect" is not commonly used in standard phrasal verb constructions. Its meaning is typically contained within the single verb.) - To direct toward: This neutral phrase can become "misdirect toward" to specify an incorrect target. - He misdirected his criticism toward his allies.
Related Idioms
- To bark up the wrong tree: To pursue a mistaken or misguided line of thought or course of action. This idiom is a figurative synonym for "misdirect one's efforts."
- If you think I stole the report, you're barking up the wrong tree.
Verb
- put a wrong address on
- misdirect the letter
- lead someone in the wrong direction or give someone wrong directions
- The pedestrian misdirected the out-of-town driver
- corrupt morally or by intemperance or sensuality
- debauch the young people with wine and women
- Socrates was accused of corrupting young men
- Do school counselors subvert young children?
- corrupt the morals