mess about
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messed about; messing about; messes about
Definition of mess about
British, informal
1 : to spend time doing things that are not useful or serious : to waste time
We just messed about all afternoon. She spent the evening messing about on the computer. It's time we stopped messing about and got busy.
2 : to have sex with someone who is not one's husband, wife, or regular partner
His wife discovered that he was messing about (on her). —often + withHis wife discovered that he was messing about with his secretary.
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