What Does “Screw sb around” Mean?
“Screw sb around” means to treat someone unfairly or dishonestly, often by wasting their time or confusing them.
Introduction
The phrasal verb “screw sb around” is commonly used in informal English to describe situations where someone is being tricked, misled, or treated badly. When you say someone is “screwing you around,” it means they are not being honest or straightforward. They might be delaying decisions, giving false promises, or just causing unnecessary problems. Understanding the Screw sb around meaning can help you recognize unfair treatment and express frustration clearly in conversations.
Quick Info Box
- Phrasal verb: screw somebody around
- Type: transitive
- Level: B2 (Upper-Intermediate)
- Short meaning: to treat someone unfairly or dishonestly
Structure (Grammar Rules)
“Screw sb around” is a transitive phrasal verb, which means it always takes an object (someone).
It is inseparable, so you cannot put the object between “screw” and “around.”
- Correct: I think he’s screwing me around.
- Incorrect: I think he’s screwing around me.
How to Use Screw sb around?
Use “screw sb around” when you want to talk about someone treating another person unfairly or wasting their time. It is often used in informal conversations, especially when discussing relationships, work, or services.
It can describe situations where promises are broken, people avoid giving clear answers, or someone is dishonest.
Examples
Imagine you asked for help, but the person keeps delaying and confusing you. You might say:
- He’s been screwing me around all week about the project deadline.
- Don’t let them screw you around with false promises.
- She felt like her boss was screwing her around by changing her schedule without warning.
- They kept screwing us around instead of fixing the problem.
- Stop screwing me around and give me a straight answer.
These examples show how to use screw sb around in a sentence naturally.
Common Mistakes
People sometimes confuse the structure or use it too formally.
- Incorrect: He is screwing around me.
- Correct: He is screwing me around.
- Incorrect: They screw someone around (without specifying who).
- Correct: They are screwing their customers around.
Remember, the object must come right after “screw” and before “around.”
Differences / Synonyms
“Screw sb around” is similar to “mess sb around” or “string sb along.”
- Mess sb around: Also means to treat someone badly or cause confusion, but can be less intense.
- String sb along: Means to keep someone hopeful or waiting, often dishonestly.
“Screw sb around” often has a stronger, more negative tone implying unfair treatment.
Common Collocations
When using “screw sb around,” certain objects appear frequently. These include:
- Customers: People receiving a service who are treated unfairly.
- Clients: Similar to customers, often in professional contexts.
- Employees: Workers who might be treated dishonestly.
- Friends or partners: People in personal relationships being misled.
- Someone’s time: Implied when someone wastes or delays unfairly.
Related Phrasal Verbs
Here are related phrasal verbs of screw sb around:
Real-life Dialogue
Here’s a short example of how “screw sb around” might appear in a conversation:
Anna: I don’t know what’s going on with my order. They keep delaying it.
Ben: Sounds like they’re just screwing you around.
Anna: Yeah, it’s really frustrating. I wish they’d be honest.
Practice
Try to complete the sentences with the correct form of “screw sb around.”
- They promised to fix my computer last week, but they keep ______ me ______.
- Don’t let anyone ______ you ______ when you ask for help.
- She felt like her landlord was ______ her ______ by not returning her calls.
FAQ
- What does “screw sb around” mean? It means to treat someone unfairly or dishonestly, often by wasting their time.
- Is “screw sb around” formal? No, it is informal and mostly used in casual speech.
- Can I separate the verb and particle? No, “screw sb around” is inseparable; the object must come between “screw” and “around.”
- What are synonyms for “screw sb around”? Similar phrases include “mess sb around” and “string sb along.”
- Is “screw sb around” offensive? It is informal and can be rude depending on context, so use it carefully.
