squirrel around
C1 informal inseparable intransitive
In simple words
To rush around in a busy and slightly scattered way, like a squirrel
Literal meaning: Like a squirrel darting around looking for food or storing nuts — quick, busy, and apparently random movement
Meanings
1 C1
idiomatic
informal
To move about in a busy, restless way, often while searching for something
"She was squirrelling around in her bag for five minutes before she found her keys."
Grammar: inseparable
Usage notes
Relatively rare and informal. Evokes the image of a squirrel's quick, darting, seemingly erratic movements. Used to describe someone who is energetically but not very efficiently searching for something or moving about.
Commonly used with
house office looking for papers things
Forms
Base
squirrel around
I/you/we/they
3rd person
squirrels around
he/she/it
Past simple
squirreled around
yesterday
Past participle
squirreled around
have + pp
-ing form
squirreling around
continuous
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