1 B1 informal
To hit or slap someone repeatedly.
"The bully was caught smacking the younger student around behind the school."
separable
smack around
B1 informal separable transitive
To hit someone repeatedly, or to treat someone in a rough or domineering way.
In plain English
To slap or hit someone several times, or to boss someone around roughly.
What does "smack around" mean?
3 meanings, ordered from most common to least. Color-coded by CEFR level.
2 B2 idiomatic informal
To treat someone in a domineering, rough, or disrespectful way.
"He complained that his manager was smacking him around and taking all the credit for his work."
separable
3 B2 idiomatic informal
To defeat or outperform someone decisively in a competition.
"Our team got smacked around in the first half, but we recovered in the second."
separable
Literal vs figurative
Words literally mean
To smack (slap/hit) someone in various directions around themselves.
Actually means
To slap or hit someone several times, or to boss someone around roughly.
Usage tip
Common in American English. Can be used literally (physical hitting) or figuratively (dominating or mistreating someone). The figurative use is especially common in competitive or business contexts.
Words that pair with "smack around"
Natural word combinations native speakers use most often.
opponent competition rivals kids employees victim
How to conjugate "smack around"
The five tense forms you'll use most often.
Base
smack around
I/you/we/they
3rd person
smacks around
he/she/it
Past simple
smacked around
yesterday
Past participle
smacked around
have + pp
-ing form
smacking around
continuous
Hear "smack around" in the wild
Listen to native speakers using "smack around" in real YouTube videos — click a clip to watch it on Looplines.
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