Episode 5: Jackie's not impressed

J
ackie: Bob! Stop messing about and come over here!!!

Mess about - messed about - messed about

Meaning: If you mess about, you behave in a silly way, often when you should be doing something serious or important.

Grammar: This phrasal verb may or may not have an object. The verb and particle are not usually separated. If an object is used, it often takes the preposition with.

The children were messing about
The children were messing about with the computer


They messed with the computer about


Example sentence: The teacher got really angry with the children. She kept asking them to do their work quietly, but they wouldn't stop messing about.

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Synonyms: goof around, goof off, kid around, fool about, carry on, clown around, lark around, play the fool, be silly