fool around

1. To play or tinker with something, often in an aimless manner. Hey, don't fool around with the thermostat—it needs to stay at 68 degrees. Grandpa's still fooling around with that old radio, but I doubt he'll get it to work again.

2. To engage in aimless recreation or frivolous time-wasting. Quit fooling around with the dog and work on your book report already!

3. To have a casual sexual relationship with someone. Betsy and I are just fooling around, which is great because I don't want a serious relationship anyway.

4. To joke about something. Often used in the negative to indicate absolute seriousness. Oh, come on, Tina, we're just fooling around. We didn't mean it. You guys, Mom is not fooling around. She said she would ground us for a month if she caught us again.

See also: around, fool

Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.

fool around

to waste time doing something unnecessary or doing something amateurishly. Stop fooling around and clean your room as I told you. I wish you didn't spend so much time fooling around.

See also: around, fool

McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs.

fool around

1. Also, monkey around. Engage in idle or casual activity, putter. For example, Jim loved to fool around with his computer, or She was monkeying around with some figures in hopes of balancing the budget. [Second half of 1800s]

2. Engage in frivolous activity, waste time. For example, Instead of studying, he spends all his spare time fooling around. Also see fool away.

3. Engage in flirting or casual sexual acts; also, engage in adultery. For example, He caught the two teenagers fooling around in the basement. [1830s]

See also: around, fool

The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer.

fool around

1. Slang To engage in frivolous activity; goof off: The children are fooling around in the yard.

2. Slang fool around with To manipulate or work with something without a clear purpose; toy with something: Who's been fooling around with my briefcase?

3. Vulgar Slang To engage in casual, often promiscuous sexual activity.

4. Vulgar Slang To be sexually unfaithful.

See also: around, fool

The American Heritage® Dictionary of Phrasal Verbs.

See also:

fool around with (someone or something)
fool with
fool with (someone or something)
fool about
screw around with (someone or something)
fiddle with
fiddle with (something)
mess about
mess about with (someone or something)
mess about with someone

References in periodicals archive

(Please don't fool around with it so that the responders from the Police (PNP), Fire (BFP) can immediately respond and take action.)

DILG to public: 911 not for prank calls

Liz Esnouf, commercial director for Arriva North East, said: "As the nights draw in we want to make sure children understand it could be incredibly dangerous to fool around on or near the roadway.

Beware roads

``We want local children to understand that although it may appear exciting to fool around on or near railway lines it is incredibly dangerous.

Summer warning over rail dangers

Kelly and Billy fool around on St Barts Pictures: GOFFPHOTOS.COM

Wedding bellies

Steve Noble, managing director for Arriva North East, said: "We want local children to understand it is actually incredibly dangerous to fool around on or near the roadway, both for themselves and for other people."

Road safety alert

I think you need to be careful because the message you're giving to this younger man (and he's taking on board), is that you can 'fool around' but you're not in the market for a serious relationship.

Snog at a party left me lusting for younger guy; DEAR COLEEN; Ireland's most straight-talking problem

"Some children might think it could be exciting to fool around near railway lines, but the reality is it is incredibly dangerous and could result in serious injury or even being killed."

Rail danger alert

Well, darling, it's called showbiz, and the game is that you fool around acting like an eejit, sounds emit from your mouth and people pay loads and loads of money to hear you and buy your CDs.

Clare McKeon's column: Nice work if you can get it, son

"With six weeks of free time we want local children to understand that although it may appear exciting to fool around on or near railway lines it is incredibly dangerous."

Railway danger alert for children

词组	fool around
释义	fool around fool around 1. To play or tinker with something, often in an aimless manner. Hey, don't fool around with the thermostat—it needs to stay at 68 degrees. Grandpa's still fooling around with that old radio, but I doubt he'll get it to work again. 2. To engage in aimless recreation or frivolous time-wasting. Quit fooling around with the dog and work on your book report already! 3. To have a casual sexual relationship with someone. Betsy and I are just fooling around, which is great because I don't want a serious relationship anyway. 4. To joke about something. Often used in the negative to indicate absolute seriousness. Oh, come on, Tina, we're just fooling around. We didn't mean it. You guys, Mom is not fooling around. She said she would ground us for a month if she caught us again. See also: around, fool Farlex Dictionary of Idioms. fool around to waste time doing something unnecessary or doing something amateurishly. Stop fooling around and clean your room as I told you. I wish you didn't spend so much time fooling around. See also: around, fool McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs. fool around 1. Also, monkey around. Engage in idle or casual activity, putter. For example, Jim loved to fool around with his computer, or She was monkeying around with some figures in hopes of balancing the budget. [Second half of 1800s] 2. Engage in frivolous activity, waste time. For example, Instead of studying, he spends all his spare time fooling around. Also see fool away. 3. Engage in flirting or casual sexual acts; also, engage in adultery. For example, He caught the two teenagers fooling around in the basement. [1830s] See also: around, fool The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer. fool around v. 1. Slang To engage in frivolous activity; goof off: The children are fooling around in the yard. 2. Slang fool around with To manipulate or work with something without a clear purpose; toy with something: Who's been fooling around with my briefcase? 3. Vulgar Slang To engage in casual, often promiscuous sexual activity. 4. Vulgar Slang To be sexually unfaithful. See also: around, fool The American Heritage® Dictionary of Phrasal Verbs. See also: fool around with (someone or something) fool with fool with (someone or something) fool about screw around with (someone or something) fiddle with fiddle with (something) mess about mess about with (someone or something) mess about with someone References in periodicals archive (Please don't fool around with it so that the responders from the Police (PNP), Fire (BFP) can immediately respond and take action.) DILG to public: 911 not for prank calls Liz Esnouf, commercial director for Arriva North East, said: "As the nights draw in we want to make sure children understand it could be incredibly dangerous to fool around on or near the roadway. Beware roads ``We want local children to understand that although it may appear exciting to fool around on or near railway lines it is incredibly dangerous. Summer warning over rail dangers Kelly and Billy fool around on St Barts Pictures: GOFFPHOTOS.COM Wedding bellies Steve Noble, managing director for Arriva North East, said: "We want local children to understand it is actually incredibly dangerous to fool around on or near the roadway, both for themselves and for other people." Road safety alert I think you need to be careful because the message you're giving to this younger man (and he's taking on board), is that you can 'fool around' but you're not in the market for a serious relationship. Snog at a party left me lusting for younger guy; DEAR COLEEN; Ireland's most straight-talking problem "Some children might think it could be exciting to fool around near railway lines, but the reality is it is incredibly dangerous and could result in serious injury or even being killed." Rail danger alert Well, darling, it's called showbiz, and the game is that you fool around acting like an eejit, sounds emit from your mouth and people pay loads and loads of money to hear you and buy your CDs. Clare McKeon's column: Nice work if you can get it, son "With six weeks of free time we want local children to understand that although it may appear exciting to fool around on or near railway lines it is incredibly dangerous." Railway danger alert for children
随便看	downhill all the way down-home downie be in bad taste be in bad, the worst possible, etc. taste be in bad with (someone) be in bed with be in bed with somebody/something be in business be in cahoots be in cloud-cuckoo land be in clover be in contact with (one) be in control be in deep shit be in deep water be in denial be in dire straits be in Dutch (with someone) be in eclipse be infatuated with (someone or something) be in favor of (something) be in favour of something/of doing something be in fear of (one's) life be infested with (something)