mess over
mess over
1. To cause great psychological harm to someone. A noun or pronoun is used between "mess" and "over." Wow, that movie really messed me over—it was so bleak and depressing! I heard that someone spiked his drink with LSD, and it really messed him over.
2. To deliberately attempt to deceive, manipulate, or misinform someone in order to exploit them. A noun or pronoun can be used between "mess" and "over." The company has been accused of messing over its customers with a change to the way it processes payments, resulting in hundreds of thousands of incorrect deductions from their accounts. I can't believe he would mess me over like that—I trusted him!
See also: mess, over
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.
mess someone over
Sl. to treat someone badly; to beat or harm someone. Max messed Lefty over and sent him to the hospital. Max messed over Lefty.
See also: mess, over
McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs.
mess someone over
tv. to treat someone badly; to beat or harm someone. Harry the Horse messed Lefty over and sent him to the hospital.
See also: mess, over, someone
McGraw-Hill's Dictionary of American Slang and Colloquial Expressions
- not do (someone or oneself) any favors
- ask back
- (Is) this taken?
- angle
- angling
- interpret for
- interpret for (someone)
- rescue from
- rescue from (someone or something)
- identify with