muck

noun uncountable

UK /mʌk/

1
informaldirt, or an unpleasant substance
Wash your hands – they’re covered in muck.
Synonyms and related words
Dirt
dirt
dust
grime
2
waste matter from animals, especially when it is spread on fields to improve the soil
Synonyms and related words
Soil fertility and fertilization
compost
compost
desertification
Synonyms and related words
Human and animal waste
cowpat
crap
dog dirt
3
informalsomething unpleasant, offensive, or of no value
Why do you read this muck?
Synonyms and related words
Something that is silly or useless
gimmick
white elephant
rubbish

phrases

where there’s muck there’s brass

muck

noun uncountable

US /mʌk/

1
informaldirt, or an unpleasant substance
Synonyms and related words
Dirt
dirt
dust
grime
2
waste matter from animals, especially when it is spread on fields to improve the soil
Synonyms and related words
Soil fertility and fertilization
compost
compost
desertification
Synonyms and related words
Human and animal waste
cowchip
cowpat
cowpie
3
mainly Britishinformalsomething unpleasant, offensive, or of no value
Why do you read this muck?
Synonyms and related words
Something that is silly or useless
gimmick
white elephant
rubbish

phrases

where there’s muck there’s brass

muck

verb

UK /mʌk/

Word Forms

present tense
I/you/we/they	muck
he/she/it	mucks
present participle	mucking
past tense	mucked
past participle	mucked

phrasal verbs

muck about
or muck around

Word Forms

present tense
I/you/we/they	muck about
he/she/it	mucks about
present participle	mucking about
past tense	mucked about
past participle	mucked about

Britishinformal

1
intransitive to waste time, especially when you should be doing something useful or paying attention
We just mucked around at home all weekend.
Synonyms and related words
To waste time, or to pass time doing unimportant things
fritter away
fiddle around
knock around
2
transitive (muck someone about) to cause trouble or problems for someone
Synonyms and related words
To cause problems for someone or something
let down
hold back
embarrass
3
intransitive (muck about with something) to damage or spoil something
Synonyms and related words
To damage or spoil something
damage
spoil
mark

muck in

intransitive

Word Forms

present tense
I/you/we/they	muck in
he/she/it	mucks in
present participle	mucking in
past tense	mucked in
past participle	mucked in

Britishinformal

to join in an activity, especially in order to help people to get a job done

Everybody mucks in with the housework.

Synonyms and related words

To take part, or to become involved

join in

participate

involve

Synonyms and related words

To help someone

help

assist

support

muck out

intransitive/transitive

Word Forms

present tense
I/you/we/they	muck out
he/she/it	mucks out
present participle	mucking out
past tense	mucked out
past participle	mucked out

to clean a place or building where farm animals live

It was always my job to muck out the barn.

Synonyms and related words

To make an animal clean or cleaner

dip

groom

grooming

Synonyms and related words

Animal farming

brand

cattle prod

muck up

Word Forms

present tense
I/you/we/they	muck up
he/she/it	mucks up
present participle	mucking up
past tense	mucked up
past participle	mucked up

informal

1
intransitive/transitive to not deal with something well or skilfully so that you do not achieve what you intended
I couldn’t take the risk of mucking up my chances.
Synonyms and related words
To make a mistake, or to do something badly
mess up
blunder
slip up
2
transitive to spoil something or prevent it from being successful
Well that’s completely mucked up my evening.
Synonyms and related words
To have a bad effect, or to reduce a good effect
damage
spoil
harm
Synonyms and related words
To damage or spoil something
damage
spoil
mark
3
transitive to make something dirty or untidy
Don’t muck up the clean floor.
Synonyms and related words
To make things dirty
dirty
pollute
smear
Synonyms and related words
To make things untidy
muddle
tangle
clutter
4
intransitive Australianto behave badly or in a silly way that wastes time
Synonyms and related words
To waste time, or to pass time doing unimportant things
fritter away
fiddle around
knock around

muck

verb

US /mʌk/

Word Forms

present tense
I/you/we/they	muck
he/she/it	mucks
present participle	mucking
past tense	mucked
past participle	mucked

phrasal verbs

muck out

intransitive/transitive

Word Forms

present tense
I/you/we/they	muck out
he/she/it	mucks out
present participle	mucking out
past tense	mucked out
past participle	mucked out

to clean a place or building where farm animals live

It was always my job to muck out the barn.

Synonyms and related words

To make an animal clean or cleaner

dip

groom

grooming

Synonyms and related words

Animal farming

brand

cattle prod

muck up

Word Forms

present tense
I/you/we/they	muck up
he/she/it	mucks up
present participle	mucking up
past tense	mucked up
past participle	mucked up

informal

1
intransitive/transitive to not deal with something well or skillfully so that you do not achieve what you intended
I couldn’t take the risk of mucking up my chances.
Synonyms and related words
To make a mistake, or to do something badly
mess up
blunder
slip up
2
transitive to spoil something or prevent it from being successful
Well that’s mucked up my evening.
Synonyms and related words
To have a bad effect, or to reduce a good effect
cost
damage
spoil
Synonyms and related words
To damage or spoil something
damage
spoil
mark
3
transitive to make something dirty or messy
Don’t muck up the clean floor.
Synonyms and related words
To make things dirty
dirty
pollute
smear
Synonyms and related words
To make things untidy
muddle
tangle
clutter
4
intransitive Australianto behave badly or in a silly way that wastes time
Synonyms and related words
To waste time, or to pass time doing unimportant things
fritter away
fiddle around
knock around

muck

muck

muck

muck about or muck around

muck in

muck out

muck up

muck

muck out

muck up

muck about
or muck around