roll by
Related to roll by: Rolling Stone
roll by
1. To move past (someone or something) in a rolling motion, on wheels, or atop or inside of something with wheels. We ducked into the alleyway when we saw the police car rolling by. Their ball rolled by our picnic blanket as it sped down the hill.
2. To move someone or something past (someone or something else) in a rolling motion, on wheels, or atop or inside of something with wheels. In this usage, a noun or pronoun is used between "roll" and "by." I hope they roll that dessert cart by again soon—I'd love another one of those chocolate brownies! The wheelchair-bound veteran asked her caretaker to roll her by the monument to her fallen comrades.
3. To travel to some place or thing to complete a quick task or pay a quick visit, especially when traveling on wheels. I just want to roll by the post office and see if my package has been delivered. A: "Do you mind if we go to the game store later?" B: "Sure, we can roll by on our way to the movie theater."
4. To elapse or pass by in time, especially very quickly or imperceptibly. I can't believe it's nearly Christmas already! The days just seem to roll by faster and faster lately. These long layovers always roll by when I'm listening to a good podcast.
See also: by, roll
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.
roll by
1. Lit. to pass by, rotating, as a wheel or a ball; to move past, rolling on wheels. The wheel of a car rolled by, all by itself. It must have come off a car somewhere down the road. The traffic rolled by relentlessly.
2. Fig. to move (past), as if rolling. The years rolled by, and soon the two people were old and gray. The clouds were rolling by, spreading patterns of light and dark across the land.
See also: by, roll
McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs.
- roll on
- roll on (something)!
- roll off
- roll to
- roll to (someone or something)
- roll down
- roll off of (someone or something)
- roll along
- roll onto
- roll onto (someone or something)