mess around Definition

mess
noun

1. An untidy or dirty state.

Example: The kitchen's in a mess
2. A state of disorder or confusion.

Example: The accounts are in a mess
Thesaurus: jumble, disorder, disarray, disorganization, confusion, chaos, imbroglio, muddle, plight, predicament, turmoil, pickle, jam; Antonym: order.
3. A badly damaged state.
4. Something or someone in a damaged, disordered or confused state.

Example: My hair is a mess
5. colloq
Animal faeces.
Example: dog mess
6. A communal dining room, especially in the armed forces.

Example: the sergeants' mess
7. old use
A portion of any pulpy food.
Example: a mess of potage

verb messes, messed, messing

1. To put or get it into an untidy, dirty, confused or damaged state; to spoil.

Example: Don't mess your clean shirt
Example: That really messed up our plans
Thesaurus: dishevel, muss, dirty, litter, pollute; botch, bungle, spoil, muddle, muck up, screw up (slang).
Form: mess something up (often)
intr
2. Said of soldiers, etc: to eat, or live, together.

Idiom: no messing

Without difficulty.
Example: did the job in ten minutes and no messing

Honestly; truthfully.
Example: It's the truth, no messing

Etymology: 13c in noun sense 7: French mes dish.

Phrasal Verb: mess about or around

To behave in an annoyingly foolish way; to potter or tinker.

Phrasal Verb: mess about or around with someone

To flirt or have sexual intercourse with someone.To defy and provoke someone.

Phrasal Verb: mess about or around with something

To play or tinker with something.

Phrasal Verb: mess someone about or around

To treat them roughly, badly or unfairly.

Phrasal Verb: mess with something

To meddle, tinker or interfere in it.

Phrasal Verb: mess with someone

To become involved in argument or conflict with them; to cause them trouble or aggravation.