mess about
(alsomess around
) informal 1 (v + adv) behave foolishly INTRANSITIVEbheith ag méiseáil bheith ag amaidí bheith ag pleidhcíocht tell him to quit messing about abair leis éirí as an amaidí 2 (v + adv) pass time in relaxed way INTRANSITIVEbheith ag slúisteoireacht thartbheith ag bodaireacht thart bheith ag fáinneáil timpeallwe just messed around in the evenings chaitheamar na tráthnónta ag bodaireacht thartShow full entry
3 (v + adv) tinker with INTRANSITIVEhe messes about with cars bíonn sé ag útamáil le carranna, bíonn sé ag fidléireacht le carranna 4 (v + adv) waste time INTRANSITIVEbheith ag cur ama amúbheith ag diomailt amashe certainly doesn't mess about is cinnte nach gcuireann sí aon am amú 5 (v + adv) play the field INTRANSITIVEbheith ag roinnt do chodahe's messing about with a girl from work tá sé ag plé le cailín ón obair, tá sé gafa le cailín ón obair 6 (v + adv) be involved with INTRANSITIVEto mess about with drugs bheith gafa le drugaí, bheith ag plé le drugaíif you mess around with the wrong people má bhíonn tú gafa leis na daoine contráilte 7 (v + adv) treat badly TRANSITIVEcaith go dona le she messed him about chaith sí go dona leisdon't mess me about ná déan an drochrud orm → see mess