mess about: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
B2Informal, colloquial
Quick answer
What does “mess about” mean?
To behave in a playful, unserious, or unproductive way.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
To behave in a playful, unserious, or unproductive way; to waste time.
To interfere with or handle something in a careless, incompetent, or meddling manner; to be indecisive or fail to commit; to have a casual romantic or sexual relationship.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
'Mess about' is strongly preferred in British English; 'mess around' is more common in American English, though 'mess about' is understood. The UK also uses 'muck about' as a synonym.
Connotations
In both varieties, it suggests inefficiency or foolishness. In UK, it can sound slightly more old-fashioned or childish.
Frequency
High frequency in UK informal speech. Moderate frequency in US, where 'mess around' dominates.
Grammar
How to Use “mess about” in a Sentence
[Subject] + mess about[Subject] + mess about + with + [Object][Subject] + mess + [Object] + about (less common)Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “mess about” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The children were messing about in the garden.
- Stop messing about and get your homework done!
- He's been messing her about for months, never making plans.
American English
- The kids were messing around in the backyard.
- Quit messing around and focus on the task.
- The company messed us around with the delivery dates.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Avoid. Use 'waste time', 'be unproductive', or 'procrastinate'.
Academic
Highly inappropriate. Use 'engage in unstructured activity' or 'experiment informally'.
Everyday
Very common in informal UK contexts among friends/family to mean time-wasting or playful behaviour.
Technical
Not used, except possibly in IT: 'Don't mess about with the registry settings.'
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “mess about”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “mess about”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “mess about”
- *I mess about the house. (Correct: I mess about IN the house / I mess about WITH things in the house.)
- Using it in formal writing.
- Confusing 'He's messing about' (playing) with 'He's messed up' (ruined).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
It's informal and can sound impatient or critical ('Stop messing about!'), but it's not generally considered swearing or highly offensive.
Meaning is identical. 'Mess about' is chiefly British, 'mess around' is chiefly American. In the UK, both are used, with 'about' being more traditional.
Yes, in informal British English, 'He's messing about with his secretary' can imply a casual affair. Context is crucial.
Yes, especially in UK, meaning to treat someone inconsiderately, often by being unreliable or indecisive. E.g., 'The airline messed us about with constant cancellations.'
To behave in a playful, unserious, or unproductive way.
Mess about is usually informal, colloquial in register.
Mess about: in British English it is pronounced /ˌmes əˈbaʊt/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌmes əˈbaʊt/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “Mess about in boats (from 'The Wind in the Willows')”
- “Stop messing about! (UK catchphrase)”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine a messy desk where you're just moving things ABOUT without actually cleaning or working—you're MESSING ABOUT.
Conceptual Metaphor
TIME IS A RESOURCE (wasting it); SERIOUS ACTIVITY IS ORDER (messing about is disorder).
Practice
Quiz
In which context is 'mess about' LEAST appropriate?