Idioms and Expressions - Around

around the bend

Definition: crazy

Tom's going round the bend with all the new responsibilities.
She's a little around the bend if you ask me!

(to have been) around the block

Definition: be very experienced

You can trust Jerry. He's been around the block once or twice.
She's been around the block. She knows what she is doing.

blue around the gills

Definition: feeling nauseous

I can't come in to work today I'm feeling blue around the gills.
You should stay at home. You look blue around the gills.

bum around

Definition: waste time

Let's go downtown and bum around.
I wish he'd stop bumming around and get to work!

clown around

Definition: joke, play games and have fun

Stop clowning around and get to work!
Let's take a break and clown around a bit.

drive someone around the bend

Definition: make someone crazy

I think I'm driving my mother-in-law around the bend.
Stop that noise! You're going to drive me around the bend.

goof around

Definition: have fun, make jokes

Stop goofing around and get back to work!
I love goofing around on Saturdays.

hang around

Definition: waste time, stay in one place

Let's hang around the bar tonight.
We've been hanging around here for much too long.

horse around

Definition: be active (usually in a negative way)

Stop horsing around! I can't concentrate.
Come on, I'm just horsing around.

jerk around

Definition: waste someone's time

He's jerking me around on the new deal.
I wish they'd make a decision and stop jerking me around.

kick around

Definition: consider

Let's kick around the new proposals.
Do you have any ideas we can kick around?

mess around with someone or something

Definition: treat poorly

I think Tony is messing around with you.
Stop messing around with that porcelain.

mope around

Definition: act depressed

Janet's just sitting at home moping around. She needs to get out.
I can't stand seeing him mope around like that.

pal around with someone

Definition: spend a lot of time together

I pal around with a lot of people from New York.
Who did you pal around with when you stayed there?

pussyfoot around

Definition: not make a decision

Stop pussyfooting around and get to it!
He's still pussyfooting around. He just can't decide one way or the other.

stick around

Definition: stay

Could you stick around after the show so we can talk?
I think I'll stick around here for a while.

tool around

Definition: drive around

We spent the afternoon tooling around downtown.
Let's get in the car and tool around.