mess about in the Oxford-Paravia Italian Dictionary

Translations for mess about in the English»Italian Dictionary

I.mess about VB [mɛs -] VB [mɛs -] inf (mess around)

1. mess about (act the fool):

mess about mess around

fare lo stupido, fare fesserie

to mess around with chemicals, matches

pasticciare or armeggiare con

don't mess around with drugs

stai alla larga dalla droga

2. mess about (potter):

to mess around in the garden, with friends

oziare in giardino, bighellonare con gli amici

3. mess about (sexually):

he messes around

è un donnaiolo

to mess around with sb

andare a letto con qn

II.mess about VB [mɛs -] VB [mɛs -] (mess [sb] around) inf

mess about mess around

trattare male

Translations for mess about in the Italian»English Dictionary

fare fesserie

to mess about or around, to do something stupid

fare cavolate

to do stupid things, to mess about or around

fare il fesso

to play the fool, to mess about or around

scusate il disordine

I'm sorry about the mess

cosa facciamo di questo accrocco politico

what are we going to do about this political mess?

Translations for mess about in the English»Italian Dictionary

I.about [Brit əˈbaʊt, Am əˈbaʊt] ADV About is used after certain nouns, adjectives and verbs in English (information about, a book about, curious about, worry about etc.); for translations, consult the appropriate entry (book, information, curious, worry etc.). - About often appears in British English as the second element of certain verb structures (move about, rummage about, lie about etc.); for translations, consult the relevant entries (move, rummage, lie etc.) - Please note that circa, the Italian translation of about meaning approximately, can either precede or follow the expression it modifies: at about 6 pm = alle 18 circa/circa alle 18; about 25 students = 25 studenti circa/circa 25 studenti.

1. about (approximately):

about

circa, pressappoco, quasi

it's about the same as yesterday

è pressappoco come ieri

at about 6 pm

alle 18 circa

it's about as useful as an umbrella in a hurricane iron

= è completamente inutile

2. about (almost):

about

quasi

to be (just) about ready

essere quasi pronto

that seems about right

sembra che vada bene or dovrebbe andar bene

I've had just about enough of her!

ne ho proprio abbastanza di lei!

I've had about as much as I can take!

ne ho abbastanza! non ne posso più!

3. about (in circulation):

there was no-one about

non c'era nessuno in giro

there are few people about

c'è poca gente in giro

there is a lot of food poisoning about

ci sono molti casi di intossicazione alimentare in giro

there's a lot of it about

ce n'è in giro molto or ne circola molto

4. about (in the vicinity):

to be somewhere about

essere nei dintorni

she must be somewhere about

deve essere nei paraggi or da queste parti

5. about (indicating reverse position):

the other way about

al contrario

II.about [Brit əˈbaʊt, Am əˈbaʊt] PREP

1. about (concerning, regarding):

a book, film about sb, sth

un libro, film su qn, qc

to talk about problem, subject

parlare di

what's it about? (of book, film etc.)

di che cosa parla?

it's about…

parla di…

may I ask what it's about?

potrei sapere di che cosa si tratta?

I'm ringing about my results

telefono per i miei risultati

it's about my son's report

riguarda la pagella di mio figlio

about your overdraft…

per quanto riguarda il or a proposito del suo scoperto di conto…

2. about (in the nature of):

there's something weird, sad about him

c'è qualcosa di strano, di triste in lui

there's something about the place that intrigues me

c'è qualcosa in questo posto che mi affascina

what I like about her is

ciò che mi piace di lei è

3. about (bound up with):

business is about profit

negli affari ciò che conta è il profitto

teaching is all about communication

insegnare vuol dire comunicare

that's what life is all about

così è la vita

4. about (occupied with):

to know what one is about

sapere che cosa si fa

mind what you're about! Brit

fa' attenzione a quel che fai!

while you're about it…

già che ci sei…

and be quick about it!

e fai alla svelta!

5. about (around):

to wander, run about the streets

girare, correre per le strade

strewn about the floor

sparpagliati sul pavimento

6. about (in invitations, suggestions):

how, what about some tea?

che ne diresti or dici di un tè?

how about going into town?

che ne diresti di andare in città?

how about it?

che ne dici?

how about you?

e tu?

7. about (when soliciting opinions):

what about the transport costs?

che ne pensi delle spese di trasporto?

what about us?

e noi?

“what about the dinner?” - “what about it?”

“e la cena allora?” - “e la cena cosa?”

what about you?

e tu?

what about Natasha?

e Natasha?

8. about (on) form:

hidden about one's person drugs, arms

nascosto sulla propria persona

to have, keep (all) one's wits about one

essere attento e pronto ad agire, conservare la propria presenza di spirito

9. about Brit (surrounding):

about

intorno a

there were trees about the house

c'erano alberi intorno alla casa

III.about [Brit əˈbaʊt, Am əˈbaʊt] ADJ

1. about (expressing future intention):

to be about to do

essere sul punto di fare or stare per fare

2. about (rejecting course of action):

I'm not about to do

non ho intenzione di fare

3. about (awake):

about

in piedi

you were (up and) about early this morning

eri in piedi presto questa mattina

IV.about [Brit əˈbaʊt, Am əˈbaʊt] VB trans

about

fare virare di bordo

V.about [Brit əˈbaʊt, Am əˈbaʊt]

it's about time (that) …

sarebbe ora (che) …

about time too!

era ora!

that's about it (that's all)

è tutto

that's about it (that's the situation)

le cose stanno più o meno così

I.mess [Brit mɛs, Am mɛs] N

1. mess (untidy state):

mess

confusione f

mess

disordine m

mess

casino m inf

what a mess

che casino!

to make a mess children, workmen:

mettere in disordine

to leave sth in a mess

lasciare qc in disordine

the kitchen is (in) a mess

la cucina è sottosopra

to tidy or clear up the mess

mettere in ordine or a posto

this report is a mess!

questa relazione è un disastro!

my hair is a mess

ho i capelli tutti spettinati or in disordine

you look a mess! Brit, you look like a mess! Am

sei proprio malmesso! sei proprio conciato male!

2. mess (muddled state) fig:

my life is a mess

la mia vita è un casino inf

the economy, country is in a terrible mess

l'economia, il paese è allo sbando

to make a mess of the job

combinare un pasticcio, un casino inf

to let things get into a mess

lasciare andare tutto a catafascio

how did we get into this mess?

come abbiamo fatto a ficcarci in questo guaio?

you got us into this mess

ci hai messi in questo pasticcio

he'll get us out of this mess

ci tirerà fuori da questo imbroglio

this is a fine mess you've got Brit or gotten Am us into!

ci hai messi proprio in un bel pasticcio!

3. mess (pitiful state) inf:

his face was a mess after the accident

dopo l'incidente il suo viso era devastato or deturpato

he's a mess (psychologically)

è molto confuso, è incasinato inf

he's a mess (incompetent)

è un pasticcione, un casinista inf

4. mess (excrement):

mess

cacca f

the dog made a mess on the lawn

il cane ha fatto la cacca sul prato

5. mess (stain):

to make a mess of or on the tablecloth, carpet

fare una macchia sulla tovaglia, moquette

to make a mess of oneself

sporcarsi, macchiarsi

to make a mess of oneself (when eating)

sbrodolarsi

6. mess MIL:

mess

mensa f

officers' mess (in the army)

mensa ufficiali

officers' mess (in the navy)

quadrato ufficiali

7. mess Am inf:

mess

piatto m

mess

porzione f

a mess of greens

una porzione di verdure

II.mess [Brit mɛs, Am mɛs] VB intr inf (meddle)

I don't mess with drugs

non ho niente a che fare con la droga

don't mess with them, they're dangerous

non immischiarti con loro, sono pericolosi

III.mess [Brit mɛs, Am mɛs]

to sell one's birthright for a mess of pottage BIBL

vendere la propria primogenitura per un piatto di lenticchie

no messing! inf

niente storie!

mess about in the PONS Dictionary

Translations for mess about in the English»Italian Dictionary

I.about [ə·ˈbaʊt] PREP

1. about (on subject of):

about

su

a book about football

un libro sul calcio

what is the film about?

di cosa parla il film?

2. about (characteristic of):

that's what I like about him

è questo che mi piace di lui

3. about (surrounding):

about

intorno a

the garden about the house

il giardino intorno alla casa

4. about (in and through):

about

per

to go about the streets

girare per le strade

Phrases:

how about that!

però!

how about a drink?

che ne dici di bere qualcosa?

what about it? (suggestion)

che ne dici?

what about it? (so what?)

e allora?

II.about [ə·ˈbaʊt] ADV

1. about (approximately):

about

pressapoco

about my size

più o meno della mia statura

about 5 lbs.

circa 5 libbre

about here

più o meno qui

about 5 years ago

circa 5 anni fa

about twenty

una ventina

to have had just about enough of sth

averne avuto abbastanza di qc

that's about it for today

è tutto per oggi

2. about (almost):

about

quasi

to be (just) about ready

essere quasi pronto

3. about (on the point of):

to be about to do sth

stare (proprio) per fare qc

4. about (around):

all about

in giro

to be somewhere about

essere nei paraggi

is Paul about?

c'è Paul da queste parti?

5. about (willing to):

not to be about to do sth

non avere nessuna intenzione di fare qc

mess <-es> [mes] N

1. mess:

mess (confusion)

confusione f

mess (disorganized state)

disordine m

to be in a mess

essere sottosopra

to make a mess of sth

fare un pasticcio di qc

to make a mess of sth things

scompigliare qc

2. mess (trouble):

mess

guaio m

this is a fine mess you've gotten me into!

mi hai cacciato proprio in un bel guaio!

3. mess (disheveled person):

mess

disastro m

just look at him — he's a mess!

ma guarda com'è conciato!

4. mess (dining hall):

mess

(sala) f mensa

Monolingual examples (not verified by PONS Editors)

English

If there's only 72 or 96 hours to spend in a city, why mess about?

news.nationalpost.com

If they fall off well that's unfortunate but accidents happen when you mess about.

www.theboltonnews.co.uk

They automatically configure your printer to work with whichever type you've bought without having to mess about with the settings on your computer.

www.pocket-lint.com

The site also has access to a nearby reservoir, where you can fish, swim, or mess about in boats.

www.telegraph.co.uk

When a middle-aged man goes on a diet, he doesn't mess about.

www.telegraph.co.uk

There are people who like to mess about and do different things in the dressing room.

www.dailymail.co.uk

Will he get bored during the service and start to mess about?

www.bbc.co.uk

This issue gets to the heart of the contemporary mess about the boundaries between childhood and adulthood, and the authority of parents.

www.spiked-online.com

There's no time to mess about with atmospherics (one of the few things the show's doing well).

www.denofgeek.com

We are a manufacturer -- we don't mess about with six.

www.express.co.uk