BBC Learning English

Face up to Phrasals
Bob & Jackie's Chemistry Project
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Episode 5: Jackie's Not Impressed

Jackie: Bob! Stop messing about and come over here!!!

Will Bob start behaving himself now? Don't miss

episode 6 of Bob and Jackie's Chemistry Project!

Mess about – messed about – messed about

Meaning: If you mess about, you behave in a silly way, often when you should be doing something
serious or important.

Grammar: This phrasal verb may or may not have an object. The verb and particle are not usually
separated. If an object is used, it often takes the preposition with.

The children were messing about

The children were messing about with the computer

They messed with the computer about

Example sentence: The teacher got really angry with the children. She kept asking them to do their
work quietly, but they wouldn't stop messing about.

Synonyms: goof around, goof off, kid around, fool about, carry on, clown around, lark around, play the
fool, be silly

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Face up to Phrasals bbclearningenglish.com ©BBC Learning English 2008

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