Messing Meaning in English
word · lemma: mess
释义
"Messing" is the -ing form of "mess" and is often used in phrases like "messing up," "messing with," or "messing around." It can mean making something untidy, handling something carelessly, bothering someone, or joking in a playful way.
用法与细微差别
Very common in informal spoken English. The meaning depends strongly on the particle: "messing up" = doing badly or ruining, "messing with" = bothering or interfering with, "messing around" = behaving playfully or wasting time. Learners should not use it in very formal writing.
例句
The kids are messing with the papers on my desk.
basic
Stop messing around and finish your homework.
basic
I'm just messing with you. I'm not serious.
basic
Who was messing with the TV remote? Now it doesn't work.
natural
He's been messing up a lot lately, but he's trying to improve.
natural
Are you seriously dating him, or are you just messing around?
natural