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"Mess around" is an intransitive verb phrase which is often translated as "pasar el rato", and "get stronger" is an intransitive verb phrase which is often translated as "ser más fuerte". Learn more about the difference between "mess around" and "get stronger" below.
mess around(
mehs
uh
-
raund
)An intransitive verb phrase is a phrase that combines a verb with a preposition or other particle and does not require a direct object (e.g., Everybody please stand up.).
1. (colloquial) (to hang out)
A word or phrase that is commonly used in conversational speech (e.g., skinny, grandma).
a. pasar el rato
It was nice to have the afternoon to just mess around and not have to work.Fue lindo tener la tarde para pasar el rato nada más y no tener que trabajar.
2. (colloquial) (to waste time)
A word or phrase that is commonly used in conversational speech (e.g., skinny, grandma).
a. perder el tiempo
You can't afford to spend the day messing around with the amount of work you've got in front of you.No te puedes permitir pasar todo el día perdiendo el tiempo con la cantidad de trabajo que tienes por delante.
b. hacer el tonto (colloquial)
A word or phrase that is commonly used in conversational speech (e.g., skinny, grandma).
Quit messing around and do your chores!¡Deja de hacer el tonto y haz tus quehaceres!
c. hacer el indio (colloquial)
A word or phrase that is commonly used in conversational speech (e.g., skinny, grandma).
Enough messing around. Get back to work!Basta de hacer el indio. ¡A trabajar!
3. (colloquial) (to play)
A word or phrase that is commonly used in conversational speech (e.g., skinny, grandma).
a. jugar
The kids were messing around in the backyard when their mother called them in for dinner.Los niños estaban jugando en el jardín cuando su madre los llamó a cenar.
4. (colloquial) (to tease)
A word or phrase that is commonly used in conversational speech (e.g., skinny, grandma).
a. decir bobadas
Yolanda has a very dry sense of humor, so people sometimes don't know when she's just messing around.Yolanda tiene un sentido de humor muy seco, así que a veces la gente no sabe cuando solo está diciendo bobadas.
b. bromear
Don't be so sensitive! I was just messing around!¡No seas tan sensible! ¡Si solo estaba bromeando!
5. (colloquial) (to be physically intimate)
A word or phrase that is commonly used in conversational speech (e.g., skinny, grandma).
a. ligarse (colloquial)
A word or phrase that is commonly used in conversational speech (e.g., skinny, grandma).
Juan and Elena were messing around in his car when her father showed up.Juan y Elena se estaban ligando en su carro cuando apareció el padre de ella.
b. enrollarse (colloquial)
A word or phrase that is commonly used in conversational speech (e.g., skinny, grandma).
The first time I messed around with Carlos, he came right out and told me he loved me. It was all a bit much, you know?La primera vez que me enrollé con Carlos, salió con que me amaba. Fue como demasiado, ¿sabes?
6. (colloquial) (to have an affair)
A word or phrase that is commonly used in conversational speech (e.g., skinny, grandma).
a. tener un lío
Gerald's wife left him when she found out he'd been messing around.La esposa de Gerald lo dejó cuando se enteró de que había tenido un lío.
A transitive verb phrase is a phrase that combines a verb with a preposition or other particle and requires a direct object (e.g., take out the trash.).
7. (colloquial) (to tease) (United Kingdom)
A word or phrase that is commonly used in conversational speech (e.g., skinny, grandma).
Regionalism used in the United Kingdom
a. torear
I've been back to have this mended four times, and you keep messing me around; I'd just like my money back.He vuelto para que arreglen esto cuatro veces ya, y me siguen toreando; solo quiero que me devuelvan el dinero.
b. tomar el pelo (colloquial)
A word or phrase that is commonly used in conversational speech (e.g., skinny, grandma).
Quit messing me around. Be serious for just a minute, will you?Deja de tomarme el pelo. Sé serio si solo por un minuto, ¿quieres?
get stronger(
geht
strang
-
guhr
)An intransitive verb phrase is a phrase that combines a verb with a preposition or other particle and does not require a direct object (e.g., Everybody please stand up.).
a. ser más fuerte
I'm brokenhearted right now, but I know I'll get stronger after this experience.Tengo el corazón roto en este momento, pero sé que voy a ser más fuerte después de esta experiencia.
b. fortalecerse
How is Paul doing after the operation? - He's been recovering well. He'll get stronger little by little.¿Cómo sigue Pablo tras la operación? - Se ha estado recuperando bien. Va a fortalecerse poco a poco.
c. hacerse más fuerte
I rested my head on his chest and listened to his heartbeat get stronger.Coloqué mi cabeza en su pecho y escuché el latido de su corazón hacerse más fuerte.
d. ponerse más fuerte
Is that Mario? He's all grown up! - He's going through a growth spurt. He's just going to get stronger and bigger every day.¿Ese es Mario? ¡Ya es todo un hombre! - Está pasando por una etapa de crecimiento. Va a ponerse más fuerte y más grande cada día.
a. volverse más fuerte
At noon, when the sun is highest in the sky, I can feel the sun's rays get stronger.Al mediodía, cuando el sol está en el punto más alto en el cielo, siento los rayos de sol volverse más fuertes.
b. volverse más intenso
What can I expect during labor? - Contractions that will get stronger and more painful.¿Qué debo esperar durante el parto? - Contracciones que van a volverse más intensas y más dolorosas.
