2 VERB If you mix something, you prepare it by mixing other things together. □ [V n] He had spent several hours mixing cement. □ [V n n] Are you sure I can't mix you a drink?
3 N‑VAR A mix is a powder containing all the substances that you need in order to make something such as a cake or a sauce. When you want to use it, you add liquid. □ …packets of pizza dough mix.
4 N‑COUNT [usu sing] A mix of different things or people is two or more of them together. □ [+ of ] The story is a magical mix of fantasy and reality. □ We get a very representative mix of people.
5 VERB If two things or activities do not mix or if one thing does not mix with another, it is not a good idea to have them or do them together, because the result would be unpleasant or dangerous. □ [V ] Politics and sport don't mix. □ [V + with ] …some of these pills that don't mix with drink. □ [V n + with ] Ted managed to mix business with pleasure. □ [V n] The military has accused the clergy of mixing religion and politics.
6 VERB If you mix with other people, you meet them and talk to them. You can also say that people mix . □ [V + with ] I ventured the idea that the secret of staying young was to mix with older people. □ [V ] People are supposed to mix, do you understand? □ [V ] When you came away you made a definite effort to mix.
7 VERB When a record producer mixes a piece of music, he or she puts together the various sounds that have been recorded in order to make the finished record. □ [V n] They've been mixing tracks for a new album due out later this year. ● mix|ing N‑UNCOUNT □ Final mixing should be completed by the end of this week.
8 → see also mixed , cake mix
9 to mix your metaphors → see metaphor
▸ mix up
1 PHRASAL VERB If you mix up two things or people, you confuse them, so that you think that one of them is the other one. □ [V n P + with ] People often mix me up with other actors. □ [V P n] Depressed people may mix up their words. □ [V n P ] Any time you told one of them something, they'd swear you'd mixed them up and told the other.
2 PHRASAL VERB If you mix up a number of things, you put things of different kinds together or place things so that they are not in order. □ [V P n] I like to mix up designer clothes. □ [V n P ] Put the sauce on top and let people mix everything up or keep separate, as they choose. □ [V n P + with ] I've taken those sounds from childhood and mixed them up with other things.
3 → see also mixed up , mix-up COLLOCATIONS mix NOUN 4
adjective + mix : diverse, eclectic; heady, intoxicating, potent; toxic; fascinating, interesting; curious, odd, strange; explosive; rich, vibrant; complex
mixed ◆◇◇ /m I kst/
1 ADJ Mixed feelings or reactions include some good things and some bad things. □ I came home from the meeting with mixed feelings. □ The reaction to these cars has been mixed.
2 ADJ A mixed group of people consists of people of many different types. □ I found a very mixed group of individuals, some with whom I had very little in common.
3 ADJ [usu ADJ n] Mixed is used to describe something that involves people from two or more different races. □ …a woman of mixed race. □ She had attended a racially mixed school.
4 ADJ [usu ADJ n] Mixed education or accommodation is intended for both males and females. □ Girls who have always been at a mixed school know how to stand up for themselves.
5 ADJ [ADJ n] Mixed is used to describe something which includes or consists of different things of the same general kind. □ …a small mixed salad. □ …a teaspoon of mixed herbs.
6 a mixed blessing → see blessing
mi xed abi l|ity ADJ [usu ADJ n] A mixed ability class or teaching system is one in which pupils of different abilities are taught together in the same class. [BRIT ]
mi xed ba g N‑SING If you describe a situation or a group of things or people as a mixed bag , you mean that it contains some good items, features, or people and some bad ones. □ [+ of ] Research on athletes and ordinary human subjects has yielded a mixed bag of results. □ This autumn's collections are a very mixed bag.
mi xed dou |bles N‑UNCOUNT [oft the N ] In some sports, such as tennis and badminton, mixed doubles is a match in which a man and a woman play as partners against another man and woman.
mi xed eco no|my (mixed economies ) N‑COUNT A mixed economy is an economic system in which some companies are owned by the state and some are not. [BUSINESS ]
mi xed ma r|riage (mixed marriages ) N‑COUNT A mixed marriage is a marriage between two people who are not of the same race or religion.
mi xed mar|tial a rts N‑UNCOUNT Mixed martial arts is a sport in which two people fight by hitting, kicking, and holding each other, both in a standing position and on the ground. □ It's a film about the world of mixed martial arts.
mi xed u p
1 ADJ If you are mixed up , you are confused, often because of emotional or social problems. □ I think he's a rather mixed up kid.
2 ADJ To be mixed up in something bad, or with someone you disapprove of, means to be involved in it or with them. □ Why did I ever get mixed up with you?