Language Research

mess · noun

/mes/Full view

mess (NOT NEAT)

B1 C usually no plural Something or someone that is a mess or is in a mess, looks dirty and disorganized and is not neat.

Dictionary examples:

My hair's such a mess!

The house is in a mess.

He makes a terrible mess when he's cooking.

Go and clean up that mess in the kitchen.

Learner example:

Now my room is a mess because I have so much stuff. (Preliminary English Test; B1; Spanish)

mess (PROBLEMS)

B2 no plural a situation that is full of problems

Dictionary examples:

She said that her life was a mess.

The company's finances are in a mess.

If he hadn't lied, he wouldn't be in this mess now.

Learner example:

How on earth did I get into this mess? (First Certificate in English; B2; Greek)

mess · verb

/mes/

mess around

C1 to waste time playing and doing things with no particular purpose

Dictionary examples:

I was just messing around on the computer.

Stop messing around and do your homework!

Learner example:

To add more, on Thursday there were so [many] children messing around that we couldn't supervise them, as we were only two people. (Certificate in Advanced English; C1; Greek)

mess around with sth

C2 to interfere with or change something that doesn't need to be changed or that you don't want changed

Dictionary example:

Has someone been messing around with the settings on my computer again?

Learner example:

She can't help messing around with your house-keeping and your cooking. (Certificate of Proficiency in English; C2; Greek)

mess up sth or mess sth up

B2 to spoil something, or to do something badly

Dictionary examples:

Don't try to cook lunch without me - you'll only mess it up.

I feel I've messed up my chances of getting the job.

Learner example:

I ignored the price and just pa[i]d because I didn't want to mess up the evening. (First Certificate in English; B2; Dutch)