bally about
C1 slang inseparable intransitive
In simple words
To spend time doing silly or pointless things instead of something useful.
Meanings
1 C1
idiomatic
slang
(Dated, British) To waste time or behave in a pointless, foolish way.
"Stop bally about and come in for dinner before it gets cold."
Grammar: inseparable
Usage notes
'Bally' is a dated British euphemism for a stronger expletive. 'Bally about' is now largely archaic and would sound old-fashioned or comic to modern British ears. You might encounter it in pre-1960s literature or humorous period drama.
Commonly used with
time day afternoon instead nonsense
Forms
Base
bally about
I/you/we/they
3rd person
ballies about
he/she/it
Past simple
ballied about
yesterday
Past participle
ballied about
have + pp
-ing form
ballying about
continuous
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Synonyms
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