Meaning trap
mess up
emotionally disturb
To cause someone emotional or psychological harm, distress, or long-term difficulties, often as a result of a traumatic or negative experience.
Don't mix these meanings
Same phrase, different job.
To cause someone emotional or psychological harm, distress, or long-term difficulties, often as a result of a traumatic or negative experience.
'mess up' also has the more basic meaning 'make a mistake'; this is the advanced sense.
Hear it in context
Notice where the phrase sounds natural.
The constant criticism from her parents really messed her up as a teenager.
Some experts argue that exposure to violence at a young age can seriously mess children up, leading to long-term psychological issues.
Fix the pattern
One small grammar move makes it sound right.
Not: The accident messed up him for years.
Say: The accident messed him up for years.
With a pronoun, the object goes in the middle: 'messed him up'.
Which sounds natural?
Tap the one a native speaker would say.
'Mess up' captures lasting emotional damage in casual speech; the formal version is clinical.
Build natural chunks
Words that usually travel with it.
mess + someone + up
- him up
- you up
- her up
- kids up
Don't confuse it
Related
Other meanings and phrases to compare.
- mess up (make a mistake) — 'mess up' also has the more basic meaning 'make a mistake'; this is the advanced sense.