mess around

• Verbo frasal que se usa para indicar ocuparse en una actividad casual o sin propósito, comportarse de manera juguetona o poco seria, o perder el tiempo.

A phrasal verb used to indicate engaging in casual or aimless activity, behaving in a playful or unserious manner, or wasting time.

incontable · intransitivo · phrasal, sin objeto

1. Behave playfully or waste timeinformal

   To engage in playful or silly behavior, often wasting time instead of doing something productive.

   perder el tiempo jugando

   • Stop messing around and finish your homework.
   • The kids were messing around in the backyard.
   • We spent the afternoon just messing around at the park.

   Sinónimosclown arounddallyfool aroundhorse aroundidlelarkloiterplay around

   Antónimosapplylaborperseverestrivework

2. Tinker or experimentinformal

   To handle or work with something in an unskilled or casual way, often to understand or fix it.

   Manipular o experimentar de manera informal

   • He likes to mess around with old radios.
   • She was messing around with the settings on her phone.
   • They messed around with the recipe until it tasted right.

   Sinónimosdabblefiddlefool aroundmonkey aroundplay aroundpotterputtertinker

   Antónimosabandonignoreneglect

3. Treat someone unfairlyinformal

   To cause trouble or confusion for someone, often by being dishonest or inconsiderate.

   Tratar injustamente a alguien

   • Don't mess around with her feelings.
   • He felt his boss was messing him around with the schedule.
   • They messed around with the contract terms at the last minute.

   Sinónimosdeceiveexploitmistreatstring alongtoy with

   Antónimoshelphonorrespectsupporttreat

Verbo basemess