Stop messing around! It's time to be serious about your studies!

I was just studying the word ふざける (巫山戯る) and learned it means to mess around!

This is the same as goofing around or horsing around and fooling around.

Josh and Sam around always goofing around.

Lex and Tod often horsing around. They need to grow up.

Those two brothers are always fooling around.

BUT be careful to fool around has an EXTRA meaning. It can also mean to kiss, french kiss, touch each other, have sex, etc.

A: What's wrong with John?

B: He's getting a divorce.

A: Really? Why?

B: His wife caught him fooling around with the babysitter!

Have a nice weekend,

Phil