go around
phrasal verb·5 senses·particle around
Meanings
Take a longer path to avoid something
Why “around”? The path bends to avoid an obstacle instead of passing through it.
“Go around the construction site.”
“Go around the fallen tree by the river.”
Move in a circular path
Why “around”? Something moves in a circle, changes direction, or returns to an earlier point in a cycle.
“The Earth goes around the sun.”
“The toy train goes around the tree.”
Be enough for everyone in a group
Why “around”? Something moves from person to person. Soon many people have it or know it.
“There's enough food to go around.”
“There are not enough chairs to go around.”
“Will the cake go around?”
Behave in a particular way habitually
Why “around”? An action happens repeatedly in many situations.
“He goes around saying he's an expert.”
“She goes around telling everyone she's busy.”
(of an illness)be common in a community
“There's a flu going around.”
“A stomach bug is going around the school.”
Don't confuse with
Go around means take a longer path to avoid something. Go away means leave a place or person.
Test yourself
“Go around the construction site.” What does it mean?
Nearby in the meaning map
Sink In connects verbs by particle pattern, contrast pairs, and shared base verbs.
go away
A contrast learners often mix up
Leave a place or person; Travel somewhere for a holiday or break
ask around
Same around pattern: sharing
Ask several different people in order to find information
beat around
Same around pattern: avoiding
Avoid the main point by being indirect (beat around the bush)
circulate around
Same around pattern: sharing
Pass through a group of people
come around
Same around pattern: circle
Visit someone at their home; Regain consciousness after fainting or anaesthesia; Eventually agree to or accept an idea; (of an event) recur on a regular schedule
dance around
Same around pattern: avoiding
Avoid a topic by being evasive
get around
Same around pattern: avoiding
Avoid a rule or difficulty; Travel or move about; (of news) become widely known; Find time to do something
hand around
Same around pattern: sharing
Give out by hand from one to another
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