1 B2 idiomatic informal
To treat someone very unfairly or to exploit them for one's own gain.
"His own business partner messed him over by taking the clients and starting a rival firm."
separable
mess over
B2 informal separable transitive
To treat someone very badly, exploit them, or cause them serious harm through dishonesty.
In plain English
To hurt someone badly by being unfair or dishonest to them.
What does "mess over" mean?
2 meanings, ordered from most common to least. Color-coded by CEFR level.
2 B2 idiomatic informal
To cause serious emotional or psychological harm to someone.
"Growing up in that environment really messed her over — she struggled for years afterwards."
separable
Literal vs figurative
Words literally mean
To make a mess all over someone — idiomatically meaning to ruin their situation through deliberate bad treatment.
Actually means
To hurt someone badly by being unfair or dishonest to them.
Usage tip
Chiefly American English. Stronger in tone than 'mess around'; implies real harm done to a person. Common in African American Vernacular English (AAVE) and urban American informal speech.
Words that pair with "mess over"
Natural word combinations native speakers use most often.
friend deal partner community people money
How to conjugate "mess over"
The five tense forms you'll use most often.
Base
mess over
I/you/we/they
3rd person
messes over
he/she/it
Past simple
messed over
yesterday
Past participle
messed over
have + pp
-ing form
messing over
continuous
Hear "mess over" in the wild
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Other ways to say "mess over"
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