screw around

Related to screw around: On a par, loose end, run an errand, give rise to, rubbing shoulders

screw (one) around

To harass, manipulate, or bother one, especially in a deceptive or frivolous manner. He's been screwing me around ever since we started going out—I can't tell if he really wants to be with me. The phone company has been screwing us around with all sorts of extra charges and fees we didn't sign up for. He's been aiming for a promotion for years, but upper management just keeps screwing him around.
See also: around, screw

screw around

1. To play or tinker with something, often in an aimless manner. Hey, don't screw around with the thermostat—it needs to stay at 68 degrees. Grandpa's still screwing around with that old radio, but I doubt he'll get it to work again.
2. To engage in aimless recreation or frivolous time-wasting. Quit screwing around with the dog and work on your book report already! The employees were screwing around in the office until the boss showed up.
3. rude slang To have a casual sexual relationship with someone. Betsy and I are just screwing around, which is great because I don't want a serious relationship anyway.
4. To joke about something. Often used in the negative to indicate absolute seriousness. Oh, come on, Tina, we're just screwing around. We didn't mean it.
See also: around, screw

screw around with (someone or something)

1. To play or tinker with something, often in an aimless manner. Hey, don't screw around with the thermostat—it needs to stay at 68 degrees. Let me screw around with the settings and see if I can get the video to play. Grandpa's still screwing around with that old radio, but I doubt he'll get it to work again.
2. To engage in aimless recreation or frivolous time-wasting with someone or something. Quit screwing around with the dog and work on your book report already!
3. rude slang To have a casual sexual relationship with someone. I can't believe you're still screwing around with Betsy. Why don't you guys try actually dating?
See also: around, screw
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.

screw someone around

Inf. to harass or bother someone. Don't screw me around, man! I bite back! Max got tired of being screwed around by Lefty.
See also: around, screw

screw around

 
1. Inf. to mess around; to waste time. Stop screwing around and get to work! I'm not screwing around, I'm thinking.
2. Inf. to play sexually; to indulge in sexual intercourse. A few couples were screwing around at the party. They say that Ted and Alice are screwing around a lot.
See also: around, screw
McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs.

screw around

1. Fool around aimlessly, accomplishing nothing, as in If you boys would stop screwing around we'd have the fence painted in an hour. It is also put as screw around with, as in Stop screwing around with the new camera. The idiom probably derives from screw in the sense of "turn" or "twist." [Slang; second half of 1900s]
2. Be sexually promiscuous, as in He's been screwing around behind her back for years. [ Vulgar slang; first half of 1900s]
See also: around, screw
The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer.

screw around

v.
1. Slang To engage in frivolous activity: I spent the day screwing around watching TV. We spent the evening screwing around at the pool hall. Stop screwing around and get to work!
2. Slang screw around with To manipulate or work with something without a clear sense of method: Who's been screwing around with my computer?—It's not working properly.
3. Vulgar Slang To be sexually unfaithful.
See also: around, screw
The American Heritage® Dictionary of Phrasal Verbs.

screw around

1. to engage in copulation. She wants to talk about their relationship and he only wants to screw around.
2. in. to waste time. John’s always screwing around and never does anything on time.
See also: around, screw
McGraw-Hill's Dictionary of American Slang and Colloquial Expressions
See also:
  • screw (one) around
  • screw off
  • shove (one) around
  • shove around
  • futz around
  • beset
  • beset with
  • beset with (something)
References in periodicals archive
When Palace really began to turn the screw around the half-hour mark, Bradshaw was judged by referee Baines to have tripped McKenzie in the box.
Ray's return gives Palace punch
is saying, in effect, "Don't screw around with plants"', or - four times - '"You can't get rid of the damn thing"') or by vague metaphor ('this movement is, however, short-circuited when Gynecia confronts the hidden singer').
Pastoral and the Poetics of Self-Contradiction: Theocritus to Marvell
If they want to screw around with the images of Kennedy, LBJ, and Nixon, who am I to quibble?
Best & worst: 1994
"If they see that the top will not tolerate anything other than equality, they won't screw around with it," he explains.
Leadership's changing face: how African-American, Asian-American and Latin American leaders communicate in a multicultural age
Screw around with endangered-species habitat on land with a title signed by John Q.
Woodpecker wars
We thought, don't tamper with it, don't screw around with the formula.' Scharff, an editor at Institutional Investor, points out how unconventional Kilgore's ideas were for their time, although we take them for granted today.
Worldly power: the making of the Wall Street Journal
If you can be screwed around with, they're going to screw around with you.
Former inmate shares experiences in state system
"You never screw around with the look of classic superheroes," said Justin Prokowiew, a sales associate at Newbury Comics in Leominster.
Marvel Comics puts Spider-Man, Captain America and Hulk through big changes
"The tree-dwelling ape is polygamous and wants to screw around as much as possible.
Celebrity bodies: Hugh Grant
You can't screw around with other women's emotions like that."
Losing that loving feeling
For a while, (UO strength and conditioning coach Jim Radcliffe) was like, `You guys just screw around too much.' But when it came down to business, we knew what we had to do, we knew we had to perform.
Kickers just want to have fun
I always have long relationships - I don't screw around. We were going to get married but I decided that we'd be better off just as friends.'
Report: Sex around the world; Ever get the impression that all those foreigners are getting more sex than we are? Our Bill Borrows decided it was time to get to the bottom of the matter. Ooh-er..