mess with (someone or something)

mess with (someone or something)

1. To change, fiddle, or play with something, often without permission to do so. My tools are not toys—please do not mess with them. Hey, has someone been messing with the thermostat? It needs to stay at 65 degrees.

2. To get into conflict with someone or something. That group of boys is dangerous—don't mess with them. This lawsuit will teach those puny upstarts not to mess with our company.

3. To interact with someone or something, especially in a risky or foolish manner. A: "Hey, you want a hit of this?" B: "No, I don't mess with drugs, dude." You're way too young to be messing with boys, Sarah.

4. To tease or mock someone. Julie's a very sensitive kid, so don't mess with her. My brother is always messing with me. I wish he would just leave me alone!

5. To confuse or puzzle someone. One minute he's flirting with me, and the next, he's completely disinterested. His mixed signals are totally messing with me!

See also: mess

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

mess with someone or something

 and monkey with someone or something

to bother or interfere with someone or something. Come on, don't monkey with my new camera. Don't mess with me unless you want trouble.

See also: mess

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

mess with

Interfere or associate with; also, annoy, bother. For example, Our group won't mess with those street musicians, or I told him not to mess with me or there would be trouble. [Colloquial; c. 1900]

See also: mess

The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer. Copyright © 2003, 1997 by The Christine Ammer 1992 Trust. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

mess with

v.

1. To alter something improperly: Don't mess with the arrangement of the chairs—they're all set up for the meeting.

2. To deceive or confuse someone or something: The horrible accident really messed with my head.

See also: mess

The American Heritage® Dictionary of Phrasal Verbs. Copyright © 2005 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

mess with someone/something

and monkey with someone/something

in. to bother or interfere with someone or something. Don’t mess with me unless you want trouble. Don’t monkey with the TV. It’s out of kilter.

See also: mess, someone, something

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