Differences between flick over and mess over

Flick over means to quickly turn the pages of a book or magazine, while mess over means to ruin or sabotage something.

Meanings and Definitions: flick over vs mess over

Learn how to use these expressions through these examples

Flick over

1Change TV channels quickly.
She FLICKED OVER to see if the news had started.

Mess over

1Treat someone badly.
They MESSED her OVER when she applied for the job.

Usage Examples: flick over, mess over in Sentences

Learn how to use these expressions through these examples

flick over

Example

I always flick over during commercials to see what else is on.

Example

She flicks over to her favorite channel when her show starts.

mess over

Example

Don't mess him over just because you don't like him.

Example

She always messes people over when they disagree with her.

Similar Expressions(Synonyms) of Flick over

skim through

To quickly read or look through something to get a general idea of its contents.

Example

I don't have time to read the whole report, so I'll just skim through it and pick out the main points.

flip through

To quickly turn the pages of a book or magazine without reading everything.

Example

She was flipping through a fashion magazine when she saw a dress she liked.

browse

To look through a collection of items, such as books or websites, without a specific purpose.

Example

I like to browse the bookstore on weekends and see if anything catches my eye.

Similar Expressions(Synonyms) of Mess over

sabotage

To deliberately ruin or damage something, often for personal gain or revenge.

Example

He tried to sabotage his coworker's project by deleting important files from the shared drive.

ruin

To damage or destroy something completely, often unintentionally.

Example

The rain ruined our picnic plans, so we had to stay inside and watch a movie instead.

botch

To do something badly or incompetently, resulting in a poor outcome.

Example

He botched the job interview by arriving late and not preparing adequately.

Explore more Phrasal Verbs

Here are some phrasal verbs with the same verbs or particles

Phrasal Verbs with “flick”

flick through

Phrasal Verbs with “mess”

Phrasal Verbs with “over”

Differences in flick over vs mess over: Usage, Formality, and Tone

Frequency in Daily Use: flick over or mess over?

In daily conversation, people use flick over more often than mess over. This is because flick over is used for more routine activities such as reading or browsing through a magazine. Mess over is not used as much and is more specific to situations where something has been ruined or sabotaged.

Informal vs Formal: Contextual Use of flick over and mess over

Flick over and mess over are informal phrases often used in casual conversations. They are suitable for everyday interactions with friends and family. In more formal settings like business or academic contexts, using alternative expressions can convey a more polished tone.

Tone and Implication: The Nuances of flick over and mess over

The tone of flick over and mess over can differ based on context. Flick over typically has a light and casual tone, especially when referring to reading material. Mess over often carries a negative or frustrated tone when something has been ruined or sabotaged.

flick over & mess over: Synonyms and Antonyms

Flick over

Synonyms

change channels
switch channels
flip channels
channel surf

Antonyms

stay on the same channel
keep watching
remain on the channel

Mess over

Synonyms

mistreat
exploit
abuse
cheat
treat unfairly
take advantage of
manipulate

Antonyms