1 C1 idiomatic informal
To move or travel in an aimless, unhurried, or irresponsible way.
"He just fooled along without any plan for his future."
inseparable
fool along
C1 informal inseparable intransitive
To move or progress in a lazy, aimless, or irresponsible manner.
In plain English
Move or go somewhere slowly and without any real purpose.
What does "fool along" mean?
One main meaning — here's how to use it.
Literal vs figurative
Words literally mean
To move along in the manner of a fool — without direction.
Actually means
Move or go somewhere slowly and without any real purpose.
Usage tip
Rare and dialectal; more common in older American English and regional varieties. Unlikely to be encountered in modern standard English. May carry a sense of drifting through life without direction.
Words that pair with "fool along"
Natural word combinations native speakers use most often.
life day road time
How to conjugate "fool along"
The five tense forms you'll use most often.
Base
fool along
I/you/we/they
3rd person
fools along
he/she/it
Past simple
fooled along
yesterday
Past participle
fooled along
have + pp
-ing form
fooling along
continuous
Hear "fool along" in the wild
Listen to native speakers using "fool along" in real YouTube videos — click a clip to watch it on Looplines.
Keep exploring
Jump to every phrasal verb built on the same verb, particle, or level.