mess around

informal

Japanese Meaning

だらだらと無駄なことをする / ふざける、冗談を言う、遊ぶ / 軽い、または一時的な性的関係を持つ

When he's nervous, he tends to mess around with his pen until the meeting ends.

彼は緊張すると、会議が終わるまでペンをいじっていることが多い。

Sense（1）

(informal) To fiddle idly.

The kids sat there messing around with leaves and blades of grass because they were bored.

Sense（2）

(informal) To joke, kid, or play.

Hey, don't take it personally. I was only messing around.

Sense（3）

(informal) To have a sexual relationship, especially one which is non-commital.

Rumor has it that he's messing around with his secretary.

messes around

（ present singular third-person ）

messing around

（ participle present ）

messed around

（ participle past ）

messed around

（ past ）