mess with

Verb

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

1. (colloquial) To interfere with.
   • Don't mess with the controls. I just got everything adjusted correctly.
   • This is what you get / When you mess with us1997, “Karma Police”, in OK Computer, performed by Radiohead
2. (colloquial) To diss; to put down.
   • Hey! Quit messing with my brother.

   Synonyms:

   tangle, play hob with

3. (colloquial) To joke around with or dupe someone, in either a friendly or unfriendly manner.
   • Don't worry: I'm just messing with you.
4. (colloquial, especially African-American Vernacular) To admire, enjoy, or approve of.
   • You know I mess with you heavy.
   • 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....2021 July 9, Huey V (quoted), Shirley Ju, “Meet Huey V | Next up out of Milwaukee's Rap Scene”, in Flaunt Magazine, archived from the original on 12 Nov 2022
5. Used other than figuratively or idiomatically: see mess, with. To eat with.
   • 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 […]1836, George Simpson & al., HBC Standing Rules and Regulations, §18

   Synonyms:

   fuck with, play the devil with