mess around

1. To tinker or fiddle with something. Hey, don't mess around with the thermostat—it needs to stay at 68 degrees. Grandpa's still messing around with that old radio, but I doubt he'll get it to work again.

2. To test or use something in order to learn more about it. I'm messing around with a different platform for my blog, and I can't decide if I like it or not.

3. To engage in aimless recreation or frivolous time-wasting; to fool around. Quit messing around and work on your book report already, Scotty!

4. To tease or play a prank on one, often by trying to get them to believe something that is not true. Come on, stop messing around. There's no such thing as ghosts.

5. To joke about something. Often used in the negative to indicate absolute seriousness. Oh, come on, Tina, we're just messing around. We didn't mean it. You guys, Mom is not messing around. She said she would ground us for a month if she caught us again.

6. To engage in casual sex acts with someone. Betsy and I are just messing around, which is great because I don't want a serious relationship anyway.

See also: around, mess

Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.

mess around

(with something) and mess about (with something); monkey around (with something)

1. to play with or fiddle with something idly and with no good purpose. Don't mess around with the ashtray. You'll break it if you don't stop messing about with it.

2. to experiment with something; to use and learn about something. We had been messing about with some new video techniques when we made our discovery. The people in this lab are messing around with all kinds of polymers.

See also: around, mess

mess around

and mess about

1. to waste time; to do something ineffectually. Stop messing around and get busy. I wish you wouldn't mess about so much. You waste a lot of time that way.

2. to play [with someone] sexually. Those two have been messing around. Pete was messing around with Maria during the summer.

See also: around, mess

McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs.

mess around

1. Slang To waste time: Stop messing around and finish your chores!

2. Slang mess around with To manipulate or work with something without a clear sense of method: I messed around with the TV controls, but the picture still looks too green.

3. Vulgar Slang To engage in casual, often promiscuous sexual activity.

See also: around, mess

The American Heritage® Dictionary of Phrasal Verbs.

mess around

verb

See mess around with someone

See also: around, mess

mess around mess about

verb

See mess around with something mess about with something

See also: around, mess

McGraw-Hill's Dictionary of American Slang and Colloquial Expressions

See also:

find way around
around (one's) ears
get (someone) around the table
get around the table
gaze around at (someone or something)
fish around
feel around
feel around (for someone or something)
crowd around
crowd around (someone or something)

References in periodicals archive

TODAY'S TIP: Put your loose change into a plastic bank cash bag to go through security at the airport, so you don't have to mess around with picking up coins from the tray.

TRAVEL TIPS

"The Royal Mail should be doing something about the bands and the council should be cleaning up the general mess around here."

LETTER LITTER STREWN ON STREET

"If we get a penalty against Spurs (on Saturday), I won't mess around - I'll smash it into the net," said Henry.

Football: Thierry hints at repeat

IF, like me, you love to mess around with mixing music online, you might like to try www.infinitewheel.com/infinit e-wheel.comA TIMELY warning was issued this week, regarding Hewlett Packard wireless keyboards.

bobdotcom: Short bytes

I'm not saying Ciara won't think she's in love at 13, but I would never leave them in a situation where they had the opportunity to 'mess around'.

BOY'S DEMANDS SHOCKED ME.

WHEN (MOST) IRISH EYES ARE SMILING: Louis Walsh and Kerry Katona mess around, far right, there's grins from Shane MacGowan, right, and Westlife, top, but not Justin Hawkins, above' PICTURE: BIGPICTURESPHOTO.COM

The Razz: A Kerry-on for lucky Louis

The people are like New Yorkers, they don't mess around and are really cool.

The Insider: Winners Rock on at gallery

Our forefathers didn't mess around when it came to punishment for wrong-doers.The answer then was to deport them to the colonies.

Your View: Colonial ploy

When Insider asked Jonathan if his superstar buddy was coming he sighed one of those well rehearsed luvvie sighs and said, "You don't mess around, do you?

Shh! Robbie's coming; THE INSIDER

NAME the artist and song and you could win a prize: The 22nd of loneliness and we've Been through so many thangs I love my man with all honesty But I know he's cheatin' on me I look him in his eyes but all he Tells me is lies to keep me near I'll never leave him down though I might mess around it's only 'Cause I need some affection ohEntries to: John Dingwall, Daily Record, One Central Quay, Glasgow G3 8DA or email j.dingwall @dailyrecord .co.uk Last week Sarah McLaughlin was the first to guess Johnny Cash's Tennessee Stud.

The Razz: Sing for your supper

He comes from a hurling background and I don't think they mess around in that.

SHANE IN EURO SWEAT

"Whatever it is, and there's a fear it could be bad news, I won't mess around.

Tommy may have to quit

But in Rome, the mantra seems to be: "You can mess around with women, men, boys and girls.

DAY 3: BUCKLEY'S SEX REVELATIONS: SEX ABUSE FORGIVEN.. BUT I'M NOT

NEW York Attorney General Eliot Spitzer doesn't mess around.

Sorted and the City: Spitzer won't hedge his bets

词组	mess around
释义	mess around mess around 1. To tinker or fiddle with something. Hey, don't mess around with the thermostat—it needs to stay at 68 degrees. Grandpa's still messing around with that old radio, but I doubt he'll get it to work again. 2. To test or use something in order to learn more about it. I'm messing around with a different platform for my blog, and I can't decide if I like it or not. 3. To engage in aimless recreation or frivolous time-wasting; to fool around. Quit messing around and work on your book report already, Scotty! 4. To tease or play a prank on one, often by trying to get them to believe something that is not true. Come on, stop messing around. There's no such thing as ghosts. 5. To joke about something. Often used in the negative to indicate absolute seriousness. Oh, come on, Tina, we're just messing around. We didn't mean it. You guys, Mom is not messing around. She said she would ground us for a month if she caught us again. 6. To engage in casual sex acts with someone. Betsy and I are just messing around, which is great because I don't want a serious relationship anyway. See also: around, mess Farlex Dictionary of Idioms. mess around (with something) and mess about (with something); monkey around (with something) 1. to play with or fiddle with something idly and with no good purpose. Don't mess around with the ashtray. You'll break it if you don't stop messing about with it. 2. to experiment with something; to use and learn about something. We had been messing about with some new video techniques when we made our discovery. The people in this lab are messing around with all kinds of polymers. See also: around, mess mess around and mess about 1. to waste time; to do something ineffectually. Stop messing around and get busy. I wish you wouldn't mess about so much. You waste a lot of time that way. 2. to play [with someone] sexually. Those two have been messing around. Pete was messing around with Maria during the summer. See also: around, mess McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs. mess around v. 1. Slang To waste time: Stop messing around and finish your chores! 2. Slang mess around with To manipulate or work with something without a clear sense of method: I messed around with the TV controls, but the picture still looks too green. 3. Vulgar Slang To engage in casual, often promiscuous sexual activity. See also: around, mess The American Heritage® Dictionary of Phrasal Verbs. mess around verb See mess around with someone See also: around, mess mess around mess about verb See mess around with something mess about with something See also: around, mess McGraw-Hill's Dictionary of American Slang and Colloquial Expressions See also: find way around around (one's) ears get (someone) around the table get around the table gaze around at (someone or something) fish around feel around feel around (for someone or something) crowd around crowd around (someone or something) References in periodicals archive TODAY'S TIP: Put your loose change into a plastic bank cash bag to go through security at the airport, so you don't have to mess around with picking up coins from the tray. TRAVEL TIPS "The Royal Mail should be doing something about the bands and the council should be cleaning up the general mess around here." LETTER LITTER STREWN ON STREET "If we get a penalty against Spurs (on Saturday), I won't mess around - I'll smash it into the net," said Henry. Football: Thierry hints at repeat IF, like me, you love to mess around with mixing music online, you might like to try www.infinitewheel.com/infinit e-wheel.comA TIMELY warning was issued this week, regarding Hewlett Packard wireless keyboards. bobdotcom: Short bytes I'm not saying Ciara won't think she's in love at 13, but I would never leave them in a situation where they had the opportunity to 'mess around'. BOY'S DEMANDS SHOCKED ME. WHEN (MOST) IRISH EYES ARE SMILING: Louis Walsh and Kerry Katona mess around, far right, there's grins from Shane MacGowan, right, and Westlife, top, but not Justin Hawkins, above' PICTURE: BIGPICTURESPHOTO.COM The Razz: A Kerry-on for lucky Louis The people are like New Yorkers, they don't mess around and are really cool. The Insider: Winners Rock on at gallery Our forefathers didn't mess around when it came to punishment for wrong-doers.The answer then was to deport them to the colonies. Your View: Colonial ploy When Insider asked Jonathan if his superstar buddy was coming he sighed one of those well rehearsed luvvie sighs and said, "You don't mess around, do you? Shh! Robbie's coming; THE INSIDER NAME the artist and song and you could win a prize: The 22nd of loneliness and we've Been through so many thangs I love my man with all honesty But I know he's cheatin' on me I look him in his eyes but all he Tells me is lies to keep me near I'll never leave him down though I might mess around it's only 'Cause I need some affection ohEntries to: John Dingwall, Daily Record, One Central Quay, Glasgow G3 8DA or email j.dingwall @dailyrecord .co.uk Last week Sarah McLaughlin was the first to guess Johnny Cash's Tennessee Stud. The Razz: Sing for your supper He comes from a hurling background and I don't think they mess around in that. SHANE IN EURO SWEAT "Whatever it is, and there's a fear it could be bad news, I won't mess around. Tommy may have to quit But in Rome, the mantra seems to be: "You can mess around with women, men, boys and girls. DAY 3: BUCKLEY'S SEX REVELATIONS: SEX ABUSE FORGIVEN.. BUT I'M NOT NEW York Attorney General Eliot Spitzer doesn't mess around. Sorted and the City: Spitzer won't hedge his bets
随便看	tail between one's legs, with one's tail down tail 'em, nail 'em, and jail 'em tail end tail-end tail end (of something) tailgate tailgate party tailing tail into tail into (something) tail off tailor tailor-made tailor-made for (someone or something) tailor (something) to (someone or something) tailor to tail out tail out (from something) tails tail (something) in(to) (something) tail wagging the dog tail wagging the dog, the taint taint (something) with (something)