to trifle with
12
7.5
- phrasal verb
- You shouldn't trifle with your health; it is important to take care of yourself.
- a man to trifle with
Examples
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These things are not to be trifled with.
-
The Hungarians knew he was tough and not to be trifled with.
Blog text (10) -
Do not trifle with me.
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As you can see, this crowd is not to be trifled with.
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Radiation machines are not to be trifled with.
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You are too generous to trifle with me.
-
The caves were not to be trifled with.
Fiction book (1990) -
They are not to be trifled with.
-
Reiss is not to be trifled with.
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Ruhf is not someone to be trifled with.
Fiction book (1992)
Synonyms
127
3.5
To act in a careless, playful way instead of doing something important
17
7.3
To treat someone or something without proper respect
How Respectful
12
7.5
- NSFW
238
3.7
Surface Forms
Morphology
trifle + with
The verb 'trifle' already carries the meaning 'to treat without seriousness or respect', and the preposition 'with' simply marks the object affected; the combined phrase 'trifle with' is a direct compositional extension following a common English verb + preposition pattern. A B1 learner who knows both constituents would therefore be able to infer the MWE meaning without prior exposure.
Etymology
Trifle with may come from the word trifle, which means a small, unimportant thing. Think of someone idly playing with a tiny object or another person's feelings as if they were a toy — that's why trifle with now means 'not take something or someone seriously'.