trifle with

Treat too casually

To trifle with someone or something is to treat them without proper seriousness or respect.

If you trifle with a person's affections, you toy with their emotions carelessly, usually in romantic contexts.

She's not someone to be trifled with warns that the person demands to be taken seriously and may retaliate if disrespected.

The phrase often appears in negative constructions emphasizing that casual or dismissive treatment would be unwise.

flirt

dally

Loiter without purpose

  • toyObject for amusement
  • flirtPlayfully attract attention
  • teaseMock playfully

lead on · string along · play with · entice · tantalize · philander · coquet · play games

meddle

tamper

Interfere harmfully

  • fiddleAdjust restlessly; folk violin
  • tinkerMender of metal household wares
  • dabbleEngage superficially

mess · fool · monkey · interfere · toy · play · potter · putter · fidget · disturb

disrespect

mock

Scornful imitation or fake

disparage · demean · slight · disregard · dismiss · snub · underestimate · undervalue · brush off · make light of

Categories
Opposites
seriousness of treatment

trifle withtake seriously

Treat as significant

respect · cherish · treasure · honor · revere

Family

trifle, trifling, trifles, trifled, trifler, triflers

Familiarity
Top 200,000
Profile
Used worldwide · Timeless · Abstract · Everyday, not technical · Rated G