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To act flirtatiously, especially just for fun
“He's the guy who goes to the gym and shows off his muscles just to mess around with the women.”
To behave or act in a jocular manner
“I couldn't tell if he was serious, or just trying to mess around.”
To tinker with something casually or in a nonserious manner
“I point the remote at the TV and mess around with the controls.”
To interfere with something, typically causing damage or harm to it
“If potential criminals can't get to your computer, they can't steal it, and they sure can't mess around with the data it contains.”
To mistreat someone
“Santo kept messing around, and it was bound to happen that he'd mess around with the wrong woman once too often and pay the price.”
To waste or spend time in aimless or frivolous activity
“I was feeling lazy anyway, so it was a perfect day to mess around doing nothing special.”
To associate or keep company with
“Who are the four kids in this school you would choose to mess around with?”
Avoid work
To behave badly, mischievously, or in an overemotional way
To toy with
(colloquial) To poke fun at or make fun of
Play games with
Fail to act resolutely or decisively
To do nothing in particular
(experiment with or on) To perform an experimental procedure, especially for scientific purposes
To intrude, meddle, or trespass in others' affairs
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