fool about
phrasal verb·1 sense·particle about
Meanings
Behave foolishly or waste time
Why “about”? Movement has no clear target. It goes in many places, not to one set point.
“He fools about in class.”
“He fools about during practice.”
Don't confuse with
Fool about means behave foolishly or waste time. Fool around means behave in a silly or playful way.
Test yourself
“He fools about in class.” What does it mean?
Nearby in the meaning map
Sink In connects verbs by particle pattern, contrast pairs, and shared base verbs.
fool around
A contrast learners often mix up
Behave in a silly or playful way; Have casual romantic or sexual relationships
fuss about
Same about pattern: everywhere
Move or worry busily without much purpose
get about
Same about pattern: everywhere
Move around or travel in general
hang about
Same about pattern: everywhere
Spend time waiting or loitering somewhere
knock about
Same about pattern: everywhere
Travel or move around in various places
lie about
Same about pattern: everywhere
Be left untidily in various places; Tell untruths concerning a subject
loaf about
Same about pattern: everywhere
Spend time idly without doing anything productive
mess about
Same about pattern: everywhere
Spend time idly or playfully without serious purpose
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