1 B1 idiomatic informal
To spend time in an idle, playful, or unproductive way.
"We spent the afternoon mucking around by the river instead of studying."
inseparable
muck around
B1 informal separable transitive/intransitive
To behave playfully or aimlessly, wasting time, or to treat someone without proper care.
In plain English
To play around doing nothing useful, or to mess someone around.
What does "muck around" mean?
2 meanings, ordered from most common to least. Color-coded by CEFR level.
2 B2 idiomatic informal
To treat someone in a careless or unreliable way, wasting their time.
"Don't let that company muck you around — demand a clear answer."
separable
Literal vs figurative
Words literally mean
To wander around in muck (dirt) — suggests pointless, messy activity.
Actually means
To play around doing nothing useful, or to mess someone around.
Usage tip
Common in British and Australian English. Virtually synonymous with 'muck about.' In the transitive sense, 'muck someone around' means to treat them badly or unreliably. American English prefers 'mess around.'
Words that pair with "muck around"
Natural word combinations native speakers use most often.
kids time stop workplace partner client
How to conjugate "muck around"
The five tense forms you'll use most often.
Base
muck around
I/you/we/they
3rd person
mucks around
he/she/it
Past simple
mucked around
yesterday
Past participle
mucked around
have + pp
-ing form
mucking around
continuous
Hear "muck around" in the wild
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