go around
phrasal verb·5 senses·particle around
Meanings
Take a longer path to avoid something
Why “around”? The path bends around an obstacle. Going around something means not going through it.
“Go around the construction site.”
“Go around the fallen tree by the river.”
Move in a circular path
Why “around”? Something turns around a centre to face a new direction.
“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”? Wandering without direction. The path loops back without ever arriving.
“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
dick around
Same around pattern: no clear way
Waste time doing nothing useful (informal, sometimes rude)
fool around
Same around pattern: no clear way
Behave in a silly or playful way; Have casual romantic or sexual relationships
Practice “go around” in Sink In
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