kid around

kid around

1. To engage in lighthearted behavior, such as making jokes; to joke around. Grandpa loves to kid around with all the little ones—look, it's like he's one of them! Boys, please stop kidding around and start working on the assignment.
2. To tease someone, often by trying to convince them of something untrue. Guys, stop kidding around. There wasn't really a spider in my hair, was there? You're not really a bad driver. I was just kidding around.
See also: around, kid
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.

kid around (with someone)

to tease and joke with someone. I like to kid around with John. We are great friends. Yes, John and I used to kid around a lot.
See also: around, kid
McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs.

kid around

Engage in good-humored fooling, joking, or teasing. For example, He's always kidding around with the other boys. [First half of 1900s]
See also: around, kid
The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer.

kid around

v.
1. To act amusingly and without seriousness: We didn't mean to appear rude; we were just kidding around.
2. To fool someone lightheartedly: At first she thought we were serious, but she finally realized we were just kidding around. I was kidding around with my brother, telling him that our parents had won the lottery.
See also: around, kid
The American Heritage® Dictionary of Phrasal Verbs.
See also:
  • gaze around
  • get (someone) around the table
  • get around the table
  • around (one's) ears
  • gaze around at (someone or something)
  • find way around
  • bomb around
  • go around and around
  • around and around
  • dart around
References in classic literature
"Haven't seen a bow-legged, dirty-faced little devil of a six-year- old loot kid around here anywhere, have you?"
The Four Million
BY KATHY ARMSTRONG GERRY Adams proved he likes to kid around - tweeting a picture of himself with a goat.
Can I rely on your goat?
Dear Coleen, I HAD a baby three years ago and, since then, all my friends who had a kid around the same time have gone on at me to have a second one.
PRESSURE ON FOR A SECOND BABY; Dear Coleen
A three-year friendship helps to turn the kid around, despite setbacks for both the student and the teacher.
Mentor
KID AROUND "You're never too old for Slip'n Slide!"
How to have your funnest summer ever ..
I don't think there's any high school kid around here smart enough to pull this off.
This senior prank went sour. (Between Tears & Laughter)
He's reaching Gonzales-ish stature on skateboarding's cumulative Favorites-of-All-Time list and there ain't a kid around the flat bar who doesn't try and copy his springy pushing style and ivory-smooth grace.
Follow the leader. (Soft Feature - Six Professionals)
I wanted to ask him what range of colors I could choose from, but one dares not kid around with a Motor Vehicles clerk.
A closet Negro comes out