order around
B1 informal separable transitive
In simple words
To boss someone around and keep telling them what to do.
Literal meaning: To send orders around (to different people or in all directions).
Meanings
1 B1
idiomatic
informal
To give someone a series of commands in a bossy, disrespectful way.
"He treats his employees terribly, ordering them around like they're servants."
Grammar: separable
Usage notes
More common in American English than 'order about'. Always implies disapproval of the commanding behaviour. Frequently used in the pattern 'I won't be ordered around by...'
Commonly used with
everyone staff children employees people subordinates
Forms
Base
order around
I/you/we/they
3rd person
orders around
he/she/it
Past simple
ordered around
yesterday
Past participle
ordered around
have + pp
-ing form
ordering around
continuous
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