How Do You Spell MESS ABOUT?

Pronunciation: [mˈɛs ɐbˈa͡ʊt] (IPA)

The spelling of the phrasal verb "mess about" is quite straightforward when compared to other English words, such as "bough," that have irregular spellings. The IPA phonetic transcription for this phrase is /ˈmɛs əˈbaʊt/. It consists of the common spelling "mess" which represents the initial /mɛs/ sound, followed by the preposition "about" which has the /əˈbaʊt/ sound. This combination of sounds forms the verb "mess about" which means to behave in a silly or careless manner, often wasting time or procrastinating.

Meaning and Definition
Common Misspellings
Etymology
Idioms
Similar spelling words
Conjugate verb
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MESS ABOUT Meaning and Definition

  1. The term "mess about" is an idiomatic verb phrase that is predominantly used in informal contexts. It refers to engaging in unproductive, aimless, or frivolous activities, typically with a sense of playfulness or lack of seriousness. It can be used to describe actions or behaviors that involve wasting time, fooling around, or not making any real progress with a task or objective.

    When someone is "messing about," they might be engaging in activities that are considered trivial or unimportant, often avoiding tasks that require focus or effort. This phrase implies a lack of intention or purpose, often involving idle play or aimless exploration without any tangible results. It can also indicate a sense of lightheartedness, with individuals engaging in mischief or playfulness for enjoyment or entertainment purposes.

    The term "mess about" can be used in various contexts. For example, it can apply to children playing without a specific agenda, individuals idly fiddling with objects or belongings, or even adults engaging in playful banter or insincere actions. Overall, "mess about" carries a sense of non-seriousness and a lack of direction, suggesting activities that are not focused or goal-oriented.

Common Misspellings for MESS ABOUT

  • ness about
  • kess about
  • jess about
  • mwss about
  • msss about
  • mdss about
  • mrss about
  • m4ss about
  • m3ss about
  • meas about
  • mezs about
  • mexs about
  • meds about
  • mees about
  • mews about
  • mesa about
  • mesz about
  • mesx about
  • mesd about

Etymology of MESS ABOUT

The term "mess about" is believed to have originated in Britain in the 19th century. "Mess" in this context means disorder or confusion, and "about" is used to indicate movement or action. So, "mess about" essentially means to engage in random or aimless activities, often in a careless or disorganized way. The phrase likely evolved from nautical slang, as sailors would use it to describe the chaotic state of their quarters or the disorderly actions of the crew. Over time, it became adopted in general English language usage to describe any form of messing around or engaging in nonproductive or frivolous actions.

Idioms with the word MESS ABOUT

  • mess about with someone The idiom "mess about with someone" typically means to play with or toy with someone, often in a teasing or playful manner. It can also imply engaging in a casual or unserious romantic or flirtatious relationship without any clear commitment.
  • not mess about The idiom "not mess about" means to take a serious or focused approach towards a task, not wasting time or getting distracted. It implies that the person is determined, efficient, and straightforward in their actions or efforts.
  • mess around with something mess about with something The idiom "mess around with something" or "mess about with something" refers to casually and playfully experimenting or tampering with something, often without a clear purpose or intention. It can imply engaging in trivial or unproductive activities, usually in a lighthearted or curious manner.
  • mess around mess about The idiom "mess around" or "mess about" refers to behaving in a careless, aimless, or unproductive manner, often characterized by engaging in frivolous or unimportant activities. It implies wasting time, being lazy, or not taking things seriously.
  • mess about To waste time, behave in a foolish or aimless manner, or engage in unproductive or frivolous activities.

Similar spelling words for MESS ABOUT

  • mousy obit,
  • mosey about,
  • mess about/around,
  • muse about.

Conjugate verb Mess about

CONDITIONAL

I would mess about
you would mess about
he/she/it would mess about
we would mess about
they would mess about

CONDITIONAL CONTINUOUS

I would be messing about
you would be messing about
he/she/it would be messing about
we would be messing about
they would be messing about

CONDITIONAL PERFECT

I would have mess about
you would have mess about
he/she/it would have mess about
we would have mess about
they would have mess about

CONDITIONAL PERFECT CONTINUOUS

I would have been messing about
you would have been messing about
he/she/it would have been messing about
we would have been messing about
they would have been messing about

FUTURE

I will mess about
you will mess about
he/she/it will mess about
we will mess about
they will mess about

FUTURE CONTINUOUS

I will be messing about
you will be messing about
he/she/it will be messing about
we will be messing about
they will be messing about

FUTURE PERFECT

I will have messed about
you will have messed about
he/she/it will have messed about
we will have messed about
they will have messed about

FUTURE PERFECT CONTINUOUS

I will have been messing about
you will have been messing about
he/she/it will have been messing about
we will have been messing about
they will have been messing about

IMPERATIVE

you mess about
we let´s mess about

NONFINITE VERB FORMS

to mess about

PAST

I messed about
you messed about
he/she/it messed about
we messed about
they messed about

PAST CONTINUOUS

I was messing about
you were messing about
he/she/it was messing about
we were messing about
they were messing about

PAST PARTICIPLE

messed about

PAST PERFECT

I had messed about
you had messed about
he/she/it had messed about
we had messed about
they had messed about

PAST PERFECT CONTINUOUS

I had been messing about
you had been messing about
he/she/it had been messing about
we had been messing about
they had been messing about

PRESENT

I mess about
you mess about
he/she/it messes about
we mess about
they mess about

PRESENT CONTINUOUS

I am messing about
you are messing about
he/she/it is messing about
we are messing about
they are messing about

PRESENT PARTICIPLE

messing about

PRESENT PERFECT

I have messed about
you have messed about
he/she/it has messed about
we have messed about
they have messed about

PRESENT PERFECT CONTINUOUS

I have been messing about
you have been messing about
he/she/it has been messing about
we have been messing about
they have been messing about

Infographic

Correct spelling for mess about
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