1 B2 informal
To spend time relaxing or doing nothing in a lazy, sprawled physical posture.
"The teenagers spent the whole holiday lolling about on the beach, barely moving."
inseparable
loll about
B2 informal inseparable intransitive
To relax or rest in a lazy, physically limp way without doing anything in particular.
In plain English
To sit or lie around doing nothing, in a very relaxed and floppy way.
What does "loll about" mean?
2 meanings, ordered from most common to least. Color-coded by CEFR level.
2 C1 neutral
(Of a body part, especially the tongue) To hang or move loosely in an aimless way.
"The dog sat in the shade with its tongue lolling about in the heat."
inseparable
Literal vs figurative
Words literally mean
'Loll' means to droop or hang loosely; 'about' adds a sense of being in no particular place or without purpose.
Actually means
To sit or lie around doing nothing, in a very relaxed and floppy way.
Usage tip
Primarily British English. Carries a slightly disapproving or humorous tone — suggesting the person is being lazier or more undignified than they should be. Often used about people or animals sprawling without purpose.
Words that pair with "loll about"
Natural word combinations native speakers use most often.
sofa garden afternoon sun all day beach
How to conjugate "loll about"
The five tense forms you'll use most often.
Base
loll about
I/you/we/they
3rd person
lolls about
he/she/it
Past simple
lolled about
yesterday
Past participle
lolled about
have + pp
-ing form
lolling about
continuous
Hear "loll about" in the wild
Listen to native speakers using "loll about" in real YouTube videos — click a clip to watch it on Looplines.
Keep exploring
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