muck

Everyday

1. Muck is dirt, mud or something wet and dirty. tree →
2. Muck is animal dung (poo), often spread on fields as manure. tree →
3. (UK, informal) Muck about/around means to behave in a silly way and waste time. tree →
4. (UK, informal) Muck up means to spoil or do something badly; muck in means to help with the work; muck out means to clean an animal's stable. tree →

In the lessons

On farms and in nature: muck in the farmyard, mucking out the pony. At home: «Take off your boots, they're covered in muck!» In school (UK): «Stop mucking about!» It is an informal, everyday word.

Examples

• Your trainers are covered in muck! tree →
• The farmer spread muck on the field. tree →
• We took turns to muck out the stables. tree →
• Stop mucking about and finish your work. tree →
• I mucked up my spelling test. tree →
• Everyone mucked in to tidy the hall after the party. tree →
• Wipe the muck off the window. tree →
• There you will find a sorry colt rolling in the muck. tree →

Note

Informal, mostly UK and Ireland. Uncountable: «some muck». Adjective: mucky (dirty). Phrasal verbs with about/around/up/in/out each have their own meaning. Not rude, just casual.