Phrasal Verbs With 'Mess'

Mess about phrasal verb

  1. Meaning: Not be serious, not use something properly
    (Separable [optional] | International English)
    » Example: The children were MESSING ABOUT with the TV remote control and broke it.
  2. Meaning: Treat someone badly
    (Separable [obligatory] | International English)
    » Example: He is always MESSING me ABOUT and never does what he promises.
  3. Meaning: Have a sexual relationship outside marriage or a permanent relationship
    (Intransitive | International English)
    » Example: He's not faithful- he's been MESSING ABOUT since they were married.

Mess about with phrasal verb

  1. Meaning: Have a sexual relationship outside marriage or a permanent relationship
    (Inseparable | International English)
    » Example: She's been MESSING ABOUT WITH another guy she knows from work.
  2. Meaning: Try to improve something, usually making things worse
    (Inseparable | International English)
    » Example: The computer was working fine until he started MESSING ABOUT WITH it.

Mess around phrasal verb

  1. Meaning: Not be serious, play with something
    (Separable [optional] | International English)
    » Example: I was MESSING AROUND on the internet because I couldn't be bothered to do any work.
  2. Meaning: Treat someone badly
    (Separable [obligatory] | International English)
    » Example: She is always MESSING me AROUND and never does what she promises.
  3. Meaning: Have a sexual relationship outside marriage or a permanent relationship
    (Intransitive | International English)
    » Example: She's not faithful- she's been MESSING ABOUT since they got married.

Mess around with phrasal verb

  1. Meaning: Have a sexual relationship outside marriage or a permanent relationship
    (Inseparable | International English)
    » Example: He's been MESSING ABOUT WITH a woman he works with.
  2. Meaning: Try to improve something, usually making things worse
    (Separable [optional] | International English)
    » Example: The computer was working fine until they started MESSING ABOUT WITH it.

Mess over phrasal verb

  1. Meaning: Treat someone badly
    (Separable [optional] | American English)
    » Example: They MESSED her OVER when she applied for the job.

Mess up phrasal verb

  1. Meaning: Spoil or ruin
    (Separable [optional] | International English)
    » Example: They MESSED UP the discussions and the contract fell through.
  2. Meaning: Make something untidy or dirty
    (Separable [optional] | International English)
    » Example: They MESSED UP the room and left stuff all over the place.
  3. Meaning: Cause mental, physical or emotional problems
    (Separable [optional] | International English)
    » Example: He took a lot of LSD and it really MESSED him UP.

Mess with phrasal verb

  1. Meaning: Become involved in something damaging or dangerous
    (Inseparable | International English)
    » Example: He's been MESSING WITH cocaine.
  2. Meaning: Annoy, bother
    (Inseparable | International English)
    » Example: Don't MESS WITH me or there will be trouble.
  3. Meaning: Associate (negative)
    (Inseparable | International English)
    » Example: He's been MESSING WITH some dangerous people.
  4. Meaning: Try to repair or improve, usually unsuccessfully
    (Inseparable | International English)
    » Example: She's been MESSING WITH it for hours and it still doesn't work.

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