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Screwed vs Messed - What's the difference?

screwed | messed |

As verbs the difference between screwed and messed

is that screwed is (screw) while messed is (mess).

As an adjective screwed

is (slang) beset with unfortunate circumstances that seem difficult or impossible to overcome; in imminent danger.

screwed

English

Adjective

(en adjective)
  • (slang) beset with unfortunate circumstances that seem difficult or impossible to overcome; in imminent danger.
  • They found out about our betrayal, so now we're screwed .
  • (slang, British) intoxicated.
  • * James Joyce, Dubliners
  • Besides they were dreadfully afraid that Freddy Malins might turn up screwed . They would not wish for worlds that any of Mary Jane's pupils should see him under the influence

    Usage notes

    * Often employed as a bowdlerization, or substitution, for (fucked).

    Synonyms

    * (sense) fucked, dicked, shagged (British)

    Derived terms

    *

    See also

    * screwed up

    Usage notes

    Because the sexual act as a metaphor for domination is a frequent association for the term 'screwed', it is potentially offensive in polite circles.

    Verb

    (head)
  • (screw)
  • He screwed the boards together tightly.
    I got screwed at the swap meet yesterday.
  • * 1641 , Richard Chambers (merchant), quoted in Hannis Taylor, The Origin and Growth of the English Constitution: An Historical Treatise, Part II: The After-Growth of the Constitution , H.O. Houghton & Company (1889), p. 274,
  • […] merchants are in no part of the world so screwed as in England. In Turkey, they have more encouragement.

    References

    messed

    English

    Verb

    (head)
  • (mess)

  • mess

    English

    Etymology 1

    From (etyl) (m), partly from (etyl) . More at (m); see also (m).

    Noun

    (es)
  • (obsolete) Mass; church service.
  • A quantity of food set on a table at one time; provision of food for a person or party for one meal; also, the food given to an animal at one time.
  • A mess of pottage.
  • * Milton
  • At their savoury dinner set / Of herbs and other country messes .
  • A number of persons who eat together, and for whom food is prepared in common; especially, persons in the military or naval service who eat at the same table.
  • the wardroom mess
  • * 1610 , , IV. iv. 11:
  • But that our feasts / In every mess have folly, and the feeders / Digest it with accustom,
  • A set of four (from the old practice of dividing companies into sets of four at dinner).
  • (Latimer)
  • (US) The milk given by a cow at one milking.
  • Derived terms
    * Eton mess * lose the number of one's mess * mess hall * mess up * Mills Mess

    Verb

  • (label) To take meals with a mess.
  • (label) To belong to a mess.
  • (label) To eat (with others).
  • (label) To supply with a mess.
  • Etymology 2

    Perhaps a corruption of (etyl) , compare (muss), or derived from Etymology 1 "mixed foods, as for animals".

    Noun

    (-)
  • A disagreeable mixture or confusion of things; hence, a situation resulting from blundering or from misunderstanding; a disorder.
  • (label) A large quantity or number.
  • (label) Excrement.
  • Synonyms
    * see also

    Verb

    (es)
  • (label) To make a mess of.
  • (label) To throw into confusion.
  • (label) To interfere.
  • Derived terms
    (terms derived from "mess") * messy * mess around * mess up * mess with

    References

    *

    Anagrams

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