Browse all

roll about

A2 neutral intransitive
In simple words

To move around by rolling, or to laugh so hard you can't stay still.

Literal meaning: To roll in various directions around an area — fairly transparent.

Meanings

1 A2 neutral

To move around by rolling in different directions, without a specific destination.

"The puppies were rolling about on the lawn, playing with each other."

2 B1 idiomatic informal

To laugh so hard that you cannot stay still, often rolling or writhing with laughter.

"His impression of the teacher had the whole class rolling about in the aisles."

Usage notes

Primarily British English. The laughter sense ('rolling about laughing') is very common in British speech. The physical sense is often used for animals, children, or round objects moving without direction.

Commonly used with

floor ground laughter laughing bed grass

Forms

Base
roll about
I/you/we/they
3rd person
rolls about
he/she/it
Past simple
rolled about
yesterday
Past participle
rolled about
have + pp
-ing form
rolling about
continuous

Understand "roll about" better

Try:

Real video examples

Video examples are being collected. Check back soon.

Want to master this phrasal verb?

Practice "roll about" on Looplines