9 Around and about

A

B

Around and about are often (but not always) interchangeable in phrasal verbs. A good dictionary will tell you whether they can both be used. The only verbs on this page where both are not possible are marked *.

Basic meaning of around and about in phrasal verbs

Around and about keep a lot of their basic meaning in many phrasal verbs. They often indicate activities and situations taking place in various locations, often without having a clear direction or order.

There were books lying around everywhere in the room.

The children were running about in the garden. Phrasal verbs with around and about are often informal. Look at this conversation between two teachers.

Holly Rumours have been flying around the staffroom lately that you’re leaving. Is it true?

Jake It amazes me how news gets around in this place! I did say to one or two people that I was tired of being bossed around by you-know-who, and, I have asked around* here and there to see if they need any full-time teachers, but I haven’t made a decision yet.

Holly Oh, right. I heard the other day that Eleanor is sick of running around* after you-knowwho sorting out problems he’s caused. So she might leave too. By the way, do you have a copy of that new grammar book? I want to show it to my students. My copy’s floating about here somewhere but I just can’t find it.

Jake Yes, I think I have a copy lying around here somewhere … Yes, here you are.

Holly Thanks very much. So, what are you up to this weekened?

Jake Nothing much, just pottering about at home, really. Oh goodness! Is that the time? I have a class now.

Holly OK, see you later. Don’t forget that we switched our classrooms around this afternoon. You’re in Room 2.

Note that in boss around, around emphasises the fact that the person is frequently being bossed by someone else, not the fact that this occurs in different places.

Other uses of around and about

Here are some other phrasal verbs which use around and about.

Children! Stop playing around! Sit politely. [behaving stupidly]

The neighbours have been banging about next door all morning. I wonder what they’re doing. [making loud noises, for example hammering or moving heavy objects]

Theo was clowning around at the party last night. It got very irritating. [acting in a silly way]

Politicians often skirt around* the truth and don’t give direct answers to questions. [avoid discussing a difficult subject or problem]

It’s a problem, but I’m sure we can work around* it in some way. [organise our activities to ensure that the problem does not prevent us from doing what we want to do]

9.1

9.2

9.3

Choose the correct word to complete these sentences.

1 I couldn’t get to sleep because of Owen around upstairs. a) banging b) lying c) switching

2 Wait a moment – the document you need is a) flying b) floating c) running 3 I think we should stop the car and let the children about here somewhere.

around for a bit.

a) get

b) lie 4 The room looks different. Have you c) run the furniture around?

a) pottered 5 If you a) ask

b) switched c) banged around, you might be able to find someone with a car for sale. b) boss c) play

6 I hate the way rumours

around the office. a) run b) fly c) lie 7 You really shouldn’t leave such important papers about.

a) clowning b) lying c) playing

8 Yanis made the children laugh by

around with pieces of fruit. a) banging b) getting c) clowning

Complete each dialogue using a verb from the box with around or about.

boss get ask clown lie

1

2

3 Isla I need to find a flat to rent in London. Do you know of anything available?

Katie No, but I’ll .

Sara Do you know where the extension lead is?

Milo Yes, I think it might be my study somewhere. in

Adam How did Hugo know we’re getting married?

Zara Well, news like that very quickly. 4

5 Ava Do you get on well with your sister?

Ella Yes, on the whole, though she me a bit too much.

Amber What do you think of Freddie?

Louis I find the way he always a bit childish.

Complete these sentences with phrasal verbs from the opposite page. Put the verb in the correct form. Sometimes more than one verb is possible.

1 I thought Alex was just in his bedroom today, but in fact he’s been really busy. He’s tidied up all the books and papers that were on the floor. He’s also his bed and his desk, which makes the room feel bigger. 2 When I was a child I used to hate visiting Great Uncle Edward. He wouldn’t allow us children to in case we broke anything, and he was always us , getting us to after him, doing odd jobs for him. 3 Do you think we could find a way to the problem of having to get written permission from everyone to use the photographs in our book? 4 I think we should be honest with everyone and not try to the issue. 5 We hear people every night in the flat upstairs. All sorts of rumours have been among the neighbours as to what is going on up there.

Over to you

Look up these words in your dictionary: crowd around, knock sth about/around, knock sb about/ around, turn around, turn sth around, roll about/around, blunder about/around. Make a note of the meanings of these words and record them with an example sentence.