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knock around

B1 informal separable both
In simple words

To move around a place with no real plan, to spend time with friends casually, or to think about something loosely.

Literal meaning: To knock things around without aim.

Meanings

1 B1 idiomatic informal

To travel or spend time in a place without a fixed plan.

"After graduating, he knocked around Southeast Asia for a year before settling down."

2 B1 idiomatic informal

To spend time casually with someone as a friend or companion.

"We used to knock around together every summer when we were teenagers."

3 B2 idiomatic informal

To discuss or consider an idea in an informal, exploratory way.

"We knocked the proposal around for an hour but couldn't reach a conclusion."

Grammar: separable
Usage notes

Very common in North American English. Multiple senses: aimless movement, casual socialising ('knock around with friends'), and discussing ideas informally ('knock an idea around'). Also used like 'knock about' to mean physically mistreating someone.

Commonly used with

idea town friends together for years concept

Forms

Base
knock around
I/you/we/they
3rd person
knocks around
he/she/it
Past simple
knocked around
yesterday
Past participle
knocked around
have + pp
-ing form
knocking around
continuous

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Synonyms

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