mess about
mess about — 片語動詞
- 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
耍弄；折騰
反覆無常地對待，使人困擾
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.
The recruitment agency messed Feng about for two months, promising an interview and then cancelling at the last minute.
那家人力仲介把 Feng 耍弄了兩個月，先答應安排面試，最後一刻又取消。
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.
Nora 跟 Rohan 說她受夠了他這樣反反覆覆——他答應要碰面，然後就消失好幾天。
passive object 'fed up with' + mess + pronoun + about
The publishers messed the authors about, shifting the deadline four times with no explanation.
出版社把作者們折騰得團團轉，交稿期限改了四次，卻完全沒有說明原因。
The car dealer messed Lucía about, changing the price three times after she agreed to buy.
那家汽車經銷商把 Lucía 耍得團團轉，在她同意購買後又改了三次價格。
verb phrase: changing the price = changing decisions
- mess someone about
- stop messing someone about
- keep messing someone about
- fed up with someone messing you about
- 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').