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kite around

C1 informal intransitive
In simple words

To fly or move around quickly and without a clear direction, like a kite.

Literal meaning: To fly around like a kite.

Meanings

1 C1 informal

To move around in a free, erratic, or aimless manner.

"The children were kiting around the park, chasing each other between the trees."

2 C1 idiomatic informal

In financial slang, to engage in check kiting — moving funds fraudulently between accounts to exploit processing delays.

"The accountant had been kiting around funds between three different accounts for months before anyone noticed."

Usage notes

Rare and informal. Often used figuratively to describe a person or idea that moves or circulates without a fixed plan. Also used in financial slang to describe the fraudulent practice of exploiting float between bank accounts ('kiting checks').

Commonly used with

freely aimlessly ideas rumours checks

Forms

Base
kite around
I/you/we/they
3rd person
kites around
he/she/it
Past simple
kited around
yesterday
Past participle
kited around
have + pp
-ing form
kiting around
continuous

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Synonyms

drift around float around wander flit about circulate

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