mess
♦ mess /m'es/ (messes messing messed)
1 [N-SING] also no det
If you say that something is a mess or in a mess, you think that it is in an untidy state.
The house is a mess...
Linda can't stand mess.
2 [N-VAR]
If you say that a situation is a mess, you mean that it is full of trouble or problems. You can also say that something is in a mess.
I've made such a mess of my life.
...the many reasons why the economy is in such a mess...
3 [N-VAR]
A mess is something liquid or sticky that has been accidentally dropped on something.
I'll clear up the mess later.
4 [N-COUNT] usu sing
The mess at a military base or military barracks is the building in which members of the armed forces can eat or relax.
...a party at the officers' mess...mess around
1 [PHRASAL VERB] V P, V P with n
If you mess around or mess about, you spend time doing things without any particular purpose or without achieving anything.
We were just messing around playing with paint...
Boys and girls will enjoy messing about with any kind of machine.
2 [PHRASAL VERB] V P with n
If you say that someone is messing around with or messing about with something, you mean that they are interfering with it in a harmful way.
I'd like to know who's been messing about with the pram.
3 [PHRASAL VERB] V P
If someone is messing around or messing about, they are behaving in a joking or silly way.
I thought she was messing about.
= fool around
4 [PHRASAL VERB] V n P
If you mess someone around or mess them about, you treat them badly, for example by not being honest with them, or by continually changing plans which affect them. (mainly BRIT)
I think they've been messed around far too much.mess hall (mess halls)
[N-COUNT]
A mess hall is a large room where a particular group of people, especially members of the armed forces, eat meals together.mess up
1 [PHRASAL VERB] V n P, V P n (not pron), V P
If you mess something up or if you mess up, you cause something to fail or be spoiled. (INFORMAL)
When politicians mess things up, it is the people who pay the price...
He had messed up one career...
If I messed up, I would probably be fired.
2 [PHRASAL VERB] V P n (not pron), also V n P
If you mess up a place or a thing, you make it untidy or dirty. (INFORMAL)
I hope they haven't messed up your video tapes.
3 [PHRASAL VERB] V n P, also V P n (not pron)
If something messes someone up, it causes them to be very confused or worried, or to have psychological problems. (INFORMAL)
That really messed them up, especially the boys.mess with
[PHRASAL VERB] V P n, V P n
If you tell someone not to mess with a person or thing, you are warning them not to get involved with that person or thing.
You are messing with people's religion and they don't like that...
Do you know who you're messing with-do you know who I am?
1 [N-SING] also no det
If you say that something is a mess or in a mess, you think that it is in an untidy state.
The house is a mess...
Linda can't stand mess.
2 [N-VAR]
If you say that a situation is a mess, you mean that it is full of trouble or problems. You can also say that something is in a mess.
I've made such a mess of my life.
...the many reasons why the economy is in such a mess...
3 [N-VAR]
A mess is something liquid or sticky that has been accidentally dropped on something.
I'll clear up the mess later.
4 [N-COUNT] usu sing
The mess at a military base or military barracks is the building in which members of the armed forces can eat or relax.
...a party at the officers' mess...mess around
1 [PHRASAL VERB] V P, V P with n
If you mess around or mess about, you spend time doing things without any particular purpose or without achieving anything.
We were just messing around playing with paint...
Boys and girls will enjoy messing about with any kind of machine.
2 [PHRASAL VERB] V P with n
If you say that someone is messing around with or messing about with something, you mean that they are interfering with it in a harmful way.
I'd like to know who's been messing about with the pram.
3 [PHRASAL VERB] V P
If someone is messing around or messing about, they are behaving in a joking or silly way.
I thought she was messing about.
= fool around
4 [PHRASAL VERB] V n P
If you mess someone around or mess them about, you treat them badly, for example by not being honest with them, or by continually changing plans which affect them. (mainly BRIT)
I think they've been messed around far too much.mess hall (mess halls)
[N-COUNT]
A mess hall is a large room where a particular group of people, especially members of the armed forces, eat meals together.mess up
1 [PHRASAL VERB] V n P, V P n (not pron), V P
If you mess something up or if you mess up, you cause something to fail or be spoiled. (INFORMAL)
When politicians mess things up, it is the people who pay the price...
He had messed up one career...
If I messed up, I would probably be fired.
2 [PHRASAL VERB] V P n (not pron), also V n P
If you mess up a place or a thing, you make it untidy or dirty. (INFORMAL)
I hope they haven't messed up your video tapes.
3 [PHRASAL VERB] V n P, also V P n (not pron)
If something messes someone up, it causes them to be very confused or worried, or to have psychological problems. (INFORMAL)
That really messed them up, especially the boys.mess with
[PHRASAL VERB] V P n, V P n
If you tell someone not to mess with a person or thing, you are warning them not to get involved with that person or thing.
You are messing with people's religion and they don't like that...
Do you know who you're messing with-do you know who I am?