mess about

mess about — phrasal verb

  • mess aboutbase form
  • messes about3rd person singular
  • messing about-ing form
  • messed aboutpast simple

1. to behave towards someone in a way that is unfair and irritating, especially by

1.片語動詞及物B2
釋義

to behave towards someone in a way that is unfair and irritating, especially by frequently changing what you have both agreed, not keeping your promises, or simply never doing what you promised.

例句

The recruitment agency messed Feng about for two months, promising an interview and then cancelling at the last minute.

mess + person + about = treat unfairly by changing plans

Nora told Rohan she was fed up with him messing her about — he would agree to meet and then vanish.

passive object 'fed up with' + mess + pronoun + about

同義詞
  • mess around

    American English equivalent; same meaning and grammar.

  • string along

    Emphasises leading someone to believe something that is not true; slightly more deceptive.

  • lead on

    Focuses on giving false hope, especially in relationships or promises.

  • dilly-dally

    Means to waste time or delay; less common and more old-fashioned.

文法句型

mess + someone + about

用法筆記

Object must be a person or group of people — the person whose time or trust is being wasted. Cannot be used with an inanimate object (❌ 'mess the schedule about').

常見錯誤

❌The boss messed about the team with his changes.
✅The boss messed the team about with his changes.
💡When the object is a noun, place it between 'mess' and 'about', not after the particle.
❌Don't mess about me.
✅Don't mess me about.
💡The pronoun object goes between the verb and the particle, not after 'about'.