Meaning
To feel both positive and negative emotions about something.
Cultural Background
Americans often use this to avoid being blunt or rude when giving feedback. Used similarly to the US, often with a sense of British understatement. In professional settings, people might use 'complicated' (fukuzatsu) instead of 'mixed' to maintain harmony. Germans are quite direct, so 'mixed feelings' is often used as a genuine analytical tool.
Use it to be polite
It's a great way to disagree without being rude.
Don't use it for facts
Only use it for feelings, not for objective truths.
Meaning
To feel both positive and negative emotions about something.
Use it to be polite
It's a great way to disagree without being rude.
Don't use it for facts
Only use it for feelings, not for objective truths.
Add a 'but'
Follow it with 'but' to explain the two sides.
Test Yourself
Fill in the blank with the correct preposition.
I have mixed feelings ___ the new policy.
The standard preposition for 'mixed feelings' is 'about'.
Choose the sentence that correctly uses the idiom.
Which sentence is correct?
The adjective 'mixed' must be used in the past participle form.
Match the situation to the feeling.
You get a promotion but have to move away. What do you have?
Because you have both positive (promotion) and negative (moving) emotions.
Complete the dialogue.
A: 'Are you happy about the wedding?' B: 'I have ______ feelings. It's a big change!'
The idiom is 'have mixed feelings'.
🎉 Score: /4
Visual Learning Aids
Practice Bank
4 exercisesI have mixed feelings ___ the new policy.
The standard preposition for 'mixed feelings' is 'about'.
Which sentence is correct?
The adjective 'mixed' must be used in the past participle form.
You get a promotion but have to move away. What do you have?
Because you have both positive (promotion) and negative (moving) emotions.
A: 'Are you happy about the wedding?' B: 'I have ______ feelings. It's a big change!'
The idiom is 'have mixed feelings'.
🎉 Score: /4
Frequently Asked Questions
12 questionsYes, it is professional enough for most workplace communications.
No. Confused means you don't understand; mixed feelings means you have two emotions.
No, that is grammatically incorrect. Just say 'I have mixed feelings'.
It is neutral. It works in almost any situation.
There isn't a direct opposite, but 'I am certain' or 'I feel strongly' are similar in intensity.
Yes, you can have mixed feelings about a person's behavior.
Not necessarily. It just means both positive and negative emotions are present.
Yes, it is a very common way to express character conflict.
Yes, it is very common in casual texting.
It's a metaphor for mixing two different ingredients together.
They are similar, but 'mixed feelings' is slightly softer.
It sounds like 'mix' plus a 't' sound at the end.
Related Phrases
Of two minds
synonymUnable to decide.
Torn
similarFeeling pulled in two directions.
Ambivalent
synonymHaving mixed feelings.
On the fence
similarUndecided.
