mess up

mess up  {v. phr.},  {slang},  {informal}
1. To cause trouble; to spoil something.
What did you have to mess up my accounts for?
2. To cause someone emotional trauma.
Sue will never get married; she got messed up when she was a teenager.
3. To beat up someone physically.
When Joe came in after the fight with the boys, he was all messed up.
Categories: informal slang verb