MESS UP


Meaning of MESS UP in English

1.

If you mess something up or if you ~, you cause something to fail or be spoiled. (INFORMAL)

When politicians mess things up, it is the people who pay the price...

He had messed up one career...

If I messed up, I would probably be fired.

PHRASAL VERB: V n P, V P n (not pron), V P

2.

If you ~ a place or a thing, you make it untidy or dirty. (INFORMAL)

I hope they haven’t messed up your video tapes.

PHRASAL VERB: V P n (not pron), also V n P

3.

If something messes someone up, it causes them to be very confused or worried, or to have psychological problems. (INFORMAL)

That really messed them up, especially the boys.

PHRASAL VERB: V n P, also V P n (not pron)

Collins COBUILD.      Толковый словарь английского языка для изучающих язык Коллинз COBUILD (международная база данных языков Бирмингемского университета) .