mess up

mess up(
mehs
 
uhp
)
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.).
transitive verb phrase
a. desordenar
The puppies messed up the garden.Los cachorros desordenaron el jardín.
b. desarreglar
Cindy's brother messed up her hair when he opened the car windows.El hermano de Cindy le desarregló el cabello cuando abrió los cristales del coche.
c. revolver
Dawn's assistant messed up her desk when she was searching for the document.La asistente de Dawn le revolvió el escritorio cuando estaba buscando el documento.
a. ensuciar
The spaghetti fell off the table and messed up the floor.El espagueti se cayó de la mesa y ensució el piso.
a. estropear
The hurricane messed up my plans to go to the beach.El huracán estropeo mis planes de ir a la playa.
b. arruinar
Alcohol abuse messed him up so much, his parents thought he'd never recover.El abuso del alcohol lo arruinó de tal manera que sus padres se temían que nunca mejoraría.
c. echar a perder
The new skyscraper across the street has messed up my cell phone reception.El nuevo rascacielos al otro lado de la calle ha echado a perder la recepción de mi celular.
4.
A word or phrase that is commonly used in conversational speech (e.g., skinny, grandma).
(colloquial)
(to beat up)
Regionalism used in the United States
(United States)
a. dar una paliza
You hit my car! I'm going to mess you up, man.¡Le pegaste a mi carro! Te voy una una paliza, güey.
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.).
intransitive verb phrase
5.
A word or phrase that is commonly used in conversational speech (e.g., skinny, grandma).
(colloquial)
(to do something wrong)
a. equivocarse
Look, you messed up. The letter is for Mrs. Hernandez, not Mrs. Fernandez.Mira, te equivocaste. La carta es para la señora Hernández, no la señora Fernández.
b. meter la pata
A word or phrase that is commonly used in conversational speech (e.g., skinny, grandma).
(colloquial)
We've really messed up this time! We'll be lucky to get another commission after this disaster.¡Esta vez sí que hemos metido la pata! Sería increíble que nos encargaran otro trabajo después de este desastre.
Copyright © 2025 Curiosity Media Inc.
Examples
Machine Translators
Translate mess up using machine translators
Other Dictionaries
Explore the meaning of mess up in our family of products.
Why use the SpanishDictionary.com dictionary?

THE BEST SPANISH-ENGLISH DICTIONARY

Get More than a Translation

Get conjugations, examples, and pronunciations for millions of words and phrases in Spanish and English.

WRITTEN BY EXPERTS

Translate with Confidence

Access millions of accurate translations written by our team of experienced English-Spanish translators.

SPANISH AND ENGLISH EXAMPLE SENTENCES

Examples for Everything

Search millions of Spanish-English example sentences from our dictionary, TV shows, and the internet.

REGIONAL TRANSLATIONS

Say It like a Local

Browse Spanish translations from Spain, Mexico, or any other Spanish-speaking country.
Word of the Day
to dive