Meaning trap
mess up
make untidy
To make something disorganized or dirty; to make a place or thing messy.
Don't mix these meanings
Same phrase, different job.
To make something disorganized or dirty; to make a place or thing messy.
Another meaning of 'mess up' is 'make a mistake'; compare the examples to keep the meanings separate.
Hear it in context
Notice where the phrase sounds natural.
- The kids messed up the living room with their toys.daily life
- When I share a room with my brother, he always messes up my side and it drives me crazy.IELTS speaking
Fix the pattern
Pattern: mess (something) up / mess up (something)
WrongDon't mess up with my desk.
RightDon't mess up my desk.
'Mess up' + the place (no 'with'). ('Mess with' = interfere — a different meaning.)
Patternmess (something) up / mess up (something)
Use it right
Choose the version that sounds natural in speech.
'Mess up' is the natural verb for making a place untidy; 'disarrange' is rare and formal.
Build natural chunks
Words that usually travel with it.
mess up + place/thingthe roomyour hairthe bedmy papers
Don't confuse it
'Mess up' means to make untidy, while 'clean up' means to make tidy.
Related
- mess up (make a mistake) — Another meaning of 'mess up' is 'make a mistake'; compare the examples to keep the meanings separate.