mess over

mess over

1. To cause great psychological harm to someone. A noun or pronoun is used between "mess" and "over." Wow, that movie really messed me over—it was so bleak and depressing! I heard that someone spiked his drink with LSD, and it really messed him over.

2. To deliberately attempt to deceive, manipulate, or misinform someone in order to exploit them. A noun or pronoun can be used between "mess" and "over." The company has been accused of messing over its customers with a change to the way it processes payments, resulting in hundreds of thousands of incorrect deductions from their accounts. I can't believe he would mess me over like that—I trusted him!

See also: mess, over

Farlex Dictionary of Idioms. © 2024 Farlex, Inc, all rights reserved.

mess someone over

Sl. to treat someone badly; to beat or harm someone. Max messed Lefty over and sent him to the hospital. Max messed over Lefty.

See also: mess, over

McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs. © 2002 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.

mess someone over

tv. to treat someone badly; to beat or harm someone. Harry the Horse messed Lefty over and sent him to the hospital.

See also: mess, over, someone

McGraw-Hill's Dictionary of American Slang and Colloquial Expressions Copyright © 2006 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved.