knock about
phrasal verb·1 sense·particle about
Meanings
Travel or move around in various places
Why “about”? Movement has no clear target. It goes in many places, not to one set point.
“He's knocked about the world for years.”
“She has knocked about small towns for years.”
Don't confuse with
Knock about means travel or move around in various places. Knock back means reject an offer or proposal.
Test yourself
“He's knocked about the world for years.” What does it mean?
Nearby in the meaning map
Sink In connects verbs by particle pattern, contrast pairs, and shared base verbs.
knock back
A contrast learners often mix up
Reject an offer or proposal
fool about
Same about pattern: everywhere
Behave foolishly or waste time
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
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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