trifle with

phrasal-verb
UK: /ˈtraɪ.fəl wɪð/
US: /ˈtraɪ.fəl wɪθ/

  1. To treat someone or something without the respect or seriousness that they deserve.

    1. Don't trifle with my feelings, please be honest with me about your intentions.
    2. She accused him of trying to trifle with her affections, but he was genuinely interested.

  2. To handle or deal with something carelessly or without due consideration; to play or toy with something.

    1. Don't trifle with that knife it is very sharp and dangerous.
    2. He likes to trifle with dangerous ideas, without thinking of the consequences.

  3. To have a casual or superficial romantic relationship with someone.

    1. He knows better than to trifle with her, she is a powerful woman.
    2. She didn't want to trifle with him so she made her disinterest very clear from the start.

Synonyms

toy with mess with play with
trifle with noun

  1. An action or behavior that is not serious or important.

    1. I don't want any trifle with you.
    2. Her concerns about the project are no trifle with our team.

Frequently Asked Questions

The word "trifle with" in English means: To treat someone or something without the respect or seriousness that they deserve., To handle or deal with something carelessly or without due consideration; to play or toy with something., To have a casual or superficial romantic relationship with someone..

The phonetic transcription of "trifle with" is /ˈtraɪ.fəl wɪð/ in British English and /ˈtraɪ.fəl wɪθ/ in American English. Click the 🔊 button to hear both pronunciations.

Synonyms for "trifle with": toy with, mess with, play with.

Example usage of "trifle with": "Don't trifle with my feelings, please be honest with me about your intentions.". More examples on the page.