mess around with sth
UK also mess about with sth informal— phrasal verb with mess uk/mes/us/mes/verb
C2 to use or treat something in a careless or harmful way:
I don't want him coming in here and messing around with our computers.
Never mess around with scissors.
Thesaurus: synonyms and related words
Damaging and spoiling
- adulterate
- alloy
- at the expense of sb idiom
- at-risk
- bandh
- bang up sb/sth
- gild the lily idiom
- gloss
- gnaw
- gnaw away at sth
- go west idiom
- goonda
- poison
- ruin
- scourge
- shatter
- shoot sth up
- shred
- sour
- tell on sb
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