knock about

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Thân thiện
Definition

Phrasal Verb: 1. To be present, active, or alive in a place, often without a clear purpose or direction: To exist or spend time somewhere, especially in a casual, aimless, or itinerant manner. 2. To treat roughly or handle without care; to subject to physical impacts: To strike or buffet something repeatedly with force.

Usage Examples
  • Meaning 1 (To be present/active):
    • After university, he decided to knock about Europe for a year before getting a job.
    • That old vase has been knocking about the attic for decades.
  • Meaning 2 (To treat roughly/be struck):
    • The small boat was knocked about by the powerful waves.
    • Don't knock about those antique books; they're very fragile.
Advanced Usage
  • "to knock about with someone": To spend time with someone socially, often in a casual group.
    • He used to knock about with a rough crowd when he was younger.
  • Passive Voice: Often used in passive constructions for the second meaning.
    • The market stalls were knocked about by the strong wind last night.
Variants and Related Words
  • Knockaround (adjective, informal): Suitable for rough, casual use.
    • I have some knockaround clothes for doing the gardening.
  • Knock-about (adjective, chiefly British): Boisterous, rough, or slapstick in nature.
    • The comedy show was full of knock-about humour.
Synonyms
  • Meaning 1: Hang around, roam, wander, loaf.
  • Meaning 2: Bump, buffet, batter, jostle.
Related Phrasal Verbs
  • Knock around (with): This is a common variant with identical meanings to "knock about."
    • We just knocked around the house all weekend.
  • Knock back (informal): To drink an alcoholic drink quickly; to reject or cost a lot.
    • He knocked back his beer and left.
Related Idioms
  • Knock about/around the bush: A less common variant of "beat around the bush," meaning to avoid talking directly about something.
    • Stop knocking about the bush and tell me what you really think.
Verb
  1. be around; be alive or active
    • Does the old man still kick around?
  2. strike against forcefully
    • Winds buffeted the tent

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