fool about
B1 informal inseparable intransitive
In simple words
Act silly or waste time doing nothing useful.
Literal meaning: To move about as a fool would — acting without purpose.
Meanings
1 B1
idiomatic
informal
To behave in a silly or playful way, especially when one should be serious.
"Stop fooling about and get your homework done!"
Grammar: inseparable
2 B1
idiomatic
informal
To waste time doing nothing productive.
"We spent the whole afternoon fooling about instead of studying."
Grammar: inseparable
Usage notes
Predominantly British English. 'Fool around' is the standard American equivalent. Can sound mildly scolding when used by adults addressing children or colleagues.
Commonly used with
time class work office day
Forms
Base
fool about
I/you/we/they
3rd person
fools about
he/she/it
Past simple
fooled about
yesterday
Past participle
fooled about
have + pp
-ing form
fooling about
continuous
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