knock around

knock around
(in BRIT, also use knock about)
1) PHRASAL VERB If someone knocks you around or knocks you about, they hit or kick you several times. [mainly BRIT, INFORMAL]

[V n P] He lied to me constantly and started knocking me around.

2) PHRASAL VERB If someone knocks around or knocks about somewhere, they spend time there, experiencing different situations or just passing time.

[V P prep/adv] ...reporters who knock around in troubled parts of the world...

[V P] They knock around on weekends in grubby sweaters and pants...

[V P n] I know nothing about him except that he knocked about South Africa for a while.

3) PHRASAL VERB: only cont If someone or something is knocking around or knocking about, they are present in a particular place. [mainly BRIT]

[V P] There were a couple of decent kits knocking around, but this wasn't one of them!...

[V P] His paintings look as if they have been knocking around for centuries.

4) PHR-V-RECIP If you knock around or knock about with someone, you spend your spare time with them, either because you are one of their friends or because you are their boyfriend or girlfriend. [mainly BRIT]

[V P with n] I used to knock about with all the lads from round where Mum lives...

[pl-n V P together] They were knocking around together for about a year before they started living together.


English dictionary. 2008.

Игры ⚽ Поможем сделать НИР

Look at other dictionaries:

  • knock\ around — • knock about • knock around v To travel without a plan; go where you please. After he graduated from college, Joe knocked about for a year seeing the country before he went to work in his father s business. Compare: kick around …   Словарь американских идиом

  • knock around — transitive verb see knock about * * * knock around (or about) informal travel without a specific purpose for a couple of years she and I knocked around the Mediterranean ■ happen to be present it gets confusing when there are too many people… …   Useful english dictionary

  • knock around — phrasal verb knock around or knock about Word forms knock around : present tense I/you/we/they knock around he/she/it knocks around present participle knocking around past tense knocked around past participle knocked around informal 1) British… …   English dictionary

  • knock around — verb a) to spend time with someone as a friend I used to knock around with John when we were younger. b) To do a relaxing activity. I like to knock around the garden on Saturdays. Syn: hang, hang about …   Wiktionary

  • knock around — 1. in. to waste time. □ Stop knocking around and get to work! □ I need a couple of days a week just for knocking around. 2. AND kick around in. to wander around; to bum around. □ I think I’ll knock around a few months before looking for another… …   Dictionary of American slang and colloquial expressions

  • knock about/knock around  — [v] roam, wander drift, ramble, range, rove, traipse, travel, walk; concepts 151,224 Ant. stay, wait …   New thesaurus

  • knock around — ► knock about (or around) informal 1) travel or spend time without a specific purpose. 2) happen to be present. Main Entry: ↑knock …   English terms dictionary

  • knock around with — be friends with, hang around with    Lynn used to knock around with us. She was our friend …   English idioms

  • knock around — Synonyms and related words: air, analyze, bat around, bum, canvass, comment upon, consider, controvert, count ties, deal with, debate, deliberate, deliberate upon, discourse about, discuss, divagate, drift, examine, exchange views, flit, gad, gad …   Moby Thesaurus

  • knock around —    habitually to beat    By husbands of wives and parents of children:     I gather he likes to knock her around a bit. (le Carré, 1989) …   How not to say what you mean: A dictionary of euphemisms

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