mess with

English

Pronunciation

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Verb

mess with

1. (obsolete) To eat with.
   • 1836, George Simpson & al., HBC Standing Rules and Regulations, §18:

     Resolved 18. That no Guide or Interpreter whether at the Factory Depot or Inland be permitted to mess with Commissioned Gentlemen or Clerks in charge of Posts; but while at the Depot they will be allowed per Week 4 days ordinary rations...

2. (slang) To interfere with.

   Don't mess with the controls. I just got everything adjusted correctly.

3. (slang) To diss; to put down.

   Hey! Quit messing with my brother.

4. (slang) To joke around with or dupe someone, in either a friendly or unfriendly manner.

   Don't worry: I'm just messing with you.

Synonyms

• (obsolete) play the devil with
• (UK, rustic US) play hob with

Translations

to interfere with

• Finnish: touhuilla (fi), temppuilla, sählätä (fi)
• Icelandic: blanda sér í
• (deprecated template usage) {{trans-mid}}
• Norwegian: søle med
• Slovak: babrať

to diss

• Finnish: parjata (fi)
• French: chercher (fr)
• (deprecated template usage) {{trans-mid}}
• Icelandic: abbast (is), abbast upp á (is)
• Norwegian: søle med
• Slovak: zhadzovať

to joke with

• Finnish: pelleillä (fi), pilailla (fi), vitsailla (fi)
• German: verarschen (de)
• (deprecated template usage) {{trans-mid}}
• Norwegian: søle med
• Slovak: doberať si, uťahovať si
• Spanish: huevear (es) (Chile)

Related terms

• mess around