1 B1 idiomatic informal
To give someone repeated commands in a rude and domineering manner.
"She was sick of being ordered about by her manager in front of customers."
separable
order about
B1 informal separable transitive
To give someone a series of commands in a domineering or disrespectful way.
In plain English
To keep telling someone what to do in a bossy, rude way.
What does "order about" mean?
One main meaning — here's how to use it.
Literal vs figurative
Words literally mean
To send orders around (to various people or in various directions).
Actually means
To keep telling someone what to do in a bossy, rude way.
Usage tip
Chiefly British. Always implies the speaker disapproves of the commanding behaviour — it is never neutral. Often used in complaints ('stop ordering me about!').
Words that pair with "order about"
Natural word combinations native speakers use most often.
staff subordinates children everyone people partner
How to conjugate "order about"
The five tense forms you'll use most often.
Base
order about
I/you/we/they
3rd person
orders about
he/she/it
Past simple
ordered about
yesterday
Past participle
ordered about
have + pp
-ing form
ordering about
continuous
Hear "order about" in the wild
Listen to native speakers using "order about" 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.