mess around
phrasal verb·2 senses·particle around
Meanings
Spend time in a careless or playful way
Informal. British people also say mess about. Compare the regional counterpart.
Why “around”? Activity continues without a clear direction, purpose, or commitment.
“They were messing around in class.”
“The boys messed around with the camera.”
“They were just messing around in the garage.”
Treat someone unfairly or unreliably
Why “around”? Someone treats a person unfairly and is not reliable. They waste the person's time and break their trust.
“Don't mess me around.”
“The agency messed us around for weeks.”
Don't confuse with
Mess around means spend time in a careless or playful way. Mess up means spoil or do something badly.
Test yourself
“They were messing around in class.” What does it mean?
Nearby in the meaning map
Sink In connects verbs by particle pattern, contrast pairs, and shared base verbs.
mess up
A contrast learners often mix up
Spoil or do something badly
dick around
Same around pattern: no clear way
Waste time doing nothing useful (informal, sometimes rude)
fool around
Same around pattern: no clear way
Behave in a silly or playful way; Have casual romantic or sexual relationships
hang around
Same around pattern: no clear way
Stay nearby without a purpose; Stay in a place without doing much; Spend time with a person or group regularly
lie around
Same around pattern: no clear way
Be left unused in plain sight
lounge around
Same around pattern: no clear way
Pass time in a relaxed sprawl
mooch around
Same around pattern: no clear way
Drift about with no purpose
play around
Same around pattern: no clear way
Experiment in a casual way; Have casual romantic or sexual affairs
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