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Alex
Phrasal verbs with "mess"
Everytime I see this word - everytime it confuses me.
Could you give me some common phrasal verbs with "mess" with examples.
Thanks.
2015년 5월 16일 오전 5:52
답변 · 3
1
If you're looking for phrasal verbs - using 'mess' as the verb plus a particle. e.g. 'up' - the only ones I can think of are 'mess up' and 'mess around/mess about'.'
1. Mess up = to make something untidy or to do something badly. Both transitive and intransitive.
This can be literal:
'I've just cleaned and tidied the kitchen, so please don't mess it up again.'
Semi-literal:
'I messed up filling in this form. I put my name and address in the wrong boxes. Can I have another one?'
Figurative:
'John's been married and divorced twice. This is his third marriage - I just hope he doesn't mess up this time.'
The less literal meanings of 'mess up' have the same meaning as the rather more vulgar 'screw up'.
Mess around/ mess about = do something or deal with something in a non-serious way. These verbs have a similar meaning to 'play around' Transitive or intransitive.
'Come on, don't mess me around. One moment you say that you want to buy my car, and the next moment you say that you don't want to buy it. I need an answer.'
'If there isn't a teacher supervising them, the children won't study properly. They'll just mess about.'
2015년 5월 18일
It has multiple meanings, mainly related to 'being untidy' or 'getting things wrong'.
I have made a mess - meaning that I have left things in their wrong place which looks untidy.
I have made a mess of fixing the car - meaning i didn't fix the car, and have likely made things worse.
did you mess up the exam? - asking if you have likely failed.
are you messing with me? - asking if you are joking or playing a trick on me.
don't mess with me - said in a serious tone would mean 'take me seriously or I will do something horrible to you'. said less seriously with a friend would mean 'be honest with me, don't joke or play a trick'.
- i think i replied as a 'comment' rather than an 'answer' previously so I'm reposting. I made a mess of answering this question ;-)
2015년 5월 16일
it has multiple meanings, mainly related to 'being untidy' or 'getting things wrong'.
I have made a mess - meaning that I have left things in their wrong place which looks untidy.
I have made a mess of fixing the car - meaning i didn't fix the car, and have likely made things worse
did you mess up the exam? - asking if you have likely failed
are you messing with me? - asking if you are joking or playing a trick on me
don't mess with me - said in a serious tone would mean 'take me seriously or I will do something horrible to you'. said less seriously with a friend would mean 'be honest with me, don't joke or play a trick'.
2015년 5월 16일
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Alex
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