prat around
B2 informal inseparable intransitive
In simple words
To do silly things and waste time instead of being sensible.
Meanings
1 B2
idiomatic
informal
To behave in a foolish or unproductive way, wasting time.
"The boys were pratting around in the back of the classroom instead of listening to the teacher."
Grammar: inseparable
Usage notes
The American English parallel would be 'horse around' or 'fool around'. 'Prat around' and 'prat about' are interchangeable. Both carry mild contempt from the speaker. Primarily British. Rarely written; mostly spoken.
Commonly used with
stop time fool friends class
Forms
Base
prat around
I/you/we/they
3rd person
prats around
he/she/it
Past simple
prated around
yesterday
Past participle
prated around
have + pp
-ing form
prating around
continuous
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Synonyms
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