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mess about

British  

verb

  1. (intr) to occupy oneself trivially; potter

  2. to interfere or meddle (with)

  3. to engage in adultery

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

He was also clear that he's here to get down to business right away, no messing about.

From BBC

"You could be kids messing about or someone trying to entrap me," I suggested.

From BBC

"I'm a chilled guy until people mess about with me," Whyte reflected the next day.

From BBC

Kirsty Giffen-McGrath was sat at the rear of her property, which was undamaged, and said she initially thought it was "kids messing about".

From BBC

“He’s a very rich character to play. He’s a complex, contradictory, troubled human who’s got these extraordinary abilities, so there’s potent stuff to mess about with,” Cumberbatch said.

From Los Angeles Times