muck about
B1 informal separable both
In simple words
To waste time doing silly or unimportant things, or to treat someone badly.
Literal meaning: 'Muck' means dirt or mess — the phrase conjures fiddling around in mud, suggesting unproductive activity.
Meanings
1 B1
idiomatic
informal
To spend time doing silly or unimportant things; to play or idle.
"Stop mucking about and start on your homework."
Grammar: inseparable
2 B2
idiomatic
informal
To treat someone inconsiderately, wasting their time or not keeping promises.
"The agency kept mucking us about with last-minute schedule changes."
Grammar: separable
Usage notes
Distinctly British English. In the intransitive sense, it means to play or idle. In the transitive sense ('muck someone about'), it means to treat someone inconsiderately or waste their time. American English speakers would usually say 'mess around' or 'fool around'.
Commonly used with
stop time waste children boss friends
Forms
Base
muck about
I/you/we/they
3rd person
mucks about
he/she/it
Past simple
mucked about
yesterday
Past participle
mucked about
have + pp
-ing form
mucking about
continuous
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Synonyms
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