mess with

English[edit]

mess with (third-person singular simple present messes with, present participle messing with, simple past and past participle messed with)

(obsolete) To eat with.
- 1836, George Simpson & al., HBC Standing Rules and Regulations, §18:
  Resolved 18. That no Guide or Interpreter whether at the Factory Depot or Inland be permitted to mess with Commissioned Gentlemen or Clerks in charge of Posts; but while at the Depot they will be allowed per Week 4 days ordinary rations...
(slang) To interfere with.
Don't mess with the controls. I just got everything adjusted correctly.
(slang) To diss; to put down.
Hey! Quit messing with my brother.
(slang) To joke around with or dupe someone, in either a friendly or unfriendly manner.
Don't worry: I'm just messing with you.
(slang, especially African-American Vernacular) To admire, enjoy, or approve of.
You know I mess with you heavy.
- 2021 July 9, Huey V (quoted), Shirley Ju, “Meet Huey V | Next up out of Milwaukee's Rap Scene”, in Flaunt Magazine‎^[1]:
  He reaches out to me on Instagram like "yo, I mess with you super heavy. I'm down in Allentown, PA - I heard this song 'No Regrets'. It's super crazy, shit gives me the chills. I got a proposal for you. Give me 6 months to get you a deal and we'll see if we can make a management situation happen. If I can't do this 6 months, then fuck it, But I want to see you in a better position because your music’s amazing, its real."

to interfere with

to diss

to joke with