1 (disarrange) [+books, papers] descolocar; [+hair] desarreglar; [+room, house] desordenar; desarreglar I hope they haven't messed up your video tapes you're messing my hair up don't mess the bed up - I've just made it
2 (dirty) ensuciar when I let him loose in the kitchen he always messes up his clothes
3 (ruin) [+plans, arrangements] estropear; echar por tierra; [+piece of work] estropear I don't want to mess up your weekend I was painting this design on the ceiling but I messed it up when politicians mess things up it is the people who pay the price the party was meant to be a surprise and you messed it up it really messed the boys up when we decided to split
