messing around

[/ˈmɛsɪŋ əˈraʊnd/]

verb (gerund/present participle)

mexer/bagunçar

1. to engage in playful or aimless activity; to waste time

Stop messing around and get to work!

Pare de mexer e comece a trabalhar!

2. to tamper with or handle something carelessly

Who's been messing around with my computer?

Quem tem estado mexendo no meu computador?

3. to engage in a casual or non-committed romantic/sexual relationship

They've been messing around for a few months.

Eles têm estado se beijando/saindo há alguns meses.

NYC Slang

messin' around; clowning around; playing

Synonyms

Antonyms

Regional Variations

General Brazilian

mexer; bagunçar; ficar

Most common usage across Brazil

Rio de Janeiro

zoar; mexer

Often used informally in casual contexts

São Paulo

mexer; bagunçar

Standard usage similar to general Brazilian

Portugal

andar à brincadeira; mexer em

Slightly more formal phrasing; 'andar à brincadeira' for playful sense

messing around with someone (flirting or romantically involved)

stop messing around (get serious)

messing with the wrong person (getting into trouble)

messing around at the margins (doing something halfheartedly)

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