7 English Phrasal Verbs With 'MESS'

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We have definitions for 7 phrasal verbs with 'MESS'

7 phrasal verbs with 'MESS'

Mess about

  1. 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. Treat someone badly
    (Separable [obligatory] | International English)
    » Example: He is always MESSING me ABOUT and never does what he promises.
  3. 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

  1. 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. 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

  1. 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. Treat someone badly
    (Separable [obligatory] | International English)
    » Example: She is always MESSING me AROUND and never does what she promises.
  3. 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

  1. 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. 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

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

Mess up

  1. Spoil or ruin
    (Separable [optional] | International English)
    » Example: They MESSED UP the discussions and the contract fell through.
  2. Make something untidy or dirty
    (Separable [optional] | International English)
    » Example: They MESSED UP the room and left stuff all over the place.
  3. 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

  1. Become involved in something damaging or dangerous
    (Inseparable | International English)
    » Example: He's been MESSING WITH cocaine.
  2. Annoy, bother
    (Inseparable | International English)
    » Example: Don't MESS WITH me or there will be trouble.
  3. Associate (negative)
    (Inseparable | International English)
    » Example: He's been MESSING WITH some dangerous people.
  4. 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.

Take our Exercise on 'MESS'

Quiz for Verb: 'To MESS'

Choose the correct definition for each phrasal verb...

'Mess with' means...

'Mess about' means...

'Mess up' means...

'Mess with' means...

'Mess about' means...

'Mess over' means...

'Mess around with' means...

'Mess with' means...

'Mess with' means...

'Mess around' means...

 

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