knock about
English · Thesaurus
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knock about
- /ˌnɒk əˈbaʊt/ UK
- /ˌnɑk əˈbaʊt/ US
Rhymes with -aʊt
Where it comes from
From knock (verb) + about.
verb knocks about · knocking about · knocked about
-
To hit (someone or something) all over repeatedly; hence, to behave violently towards or mistreat (someone or something).
It was known that he would knock his wife about when he had been drinking.
Similar: knock around, knock round
- To knock back a drink; to finish a drink.
-
To move or roam around aimlessly; to be in circulation.
'Oh, come, sir,' protested Greatorex. 'This account speaks of a few other specimens knocking about. Surely in a year or two's time this one couldn't be positively identified as stolen?'
Similar: knock around, knock round
-
To live an unconventional life.
Similar: knock around, knock round
-
To be present at or inhabit a certain place.
He [a hare] used to knock about here in Holleia, and they said he was nearly black. A good many were after him and had a shot at him, but they never had any luck, until this rascally Andreas came here.
Similar: hang around
-
To engage in a relaxing activity in a place; to hang around in.
I like to knock about the garden on Saturdays.
Similar: hang around, potter about, potter around
-
Often followed by with: to spend time companionably; to hang around.
I used to knock about with John when we were younger.
Similar: hang around, hang, hang about, knock around, knock round
-
To be mislaid in a place.
I’ve got some scissors knocking about in the kitchen.
Similar: hang around, knock around, knock round, lie around
Translations
Every language
verb to hit (someone or something) all over repeatedly
| Ελληνικά | κακοποιώ kakopoió |
|---|---|
| Română | cutreiera |
| Русский | напада́ть napadátʹ, напа́сть napástʹ |
verb to engage in a relaxing activity in a place
| Русский | зависать zavisatʹ |
|---|
verb to be present at or inhabit a certain place — see also hang around, inhabit
| Ελληνικά | αλωνίζω alonízo |
|---|
verb to spend time companionably
| Русский | тусова́ться tusovátʹsja, зависа́ть zavisátʹ, зави́снуть zavísnutʹ |
|---|
verb to be mislaid in a place
| Deutsch | rumfliegen |
|---|---|
| Русский | запропаститься zapropastitʹsja |
Talk about this word "knock about." Wiktionary, via Micwyn, micwyn.com/word/knock%20about. Accessed 6 Nov. 2026. knock about. (n.d.). In Wiktionary, via Micwyn. Retrieved November 6, 2026, from https://micwyn.com/word/knock%20about "knock about." Wiktionary, via Micwyn. Accessed November 6, 2026. https://micwyn.com/word/knock%20about.Cite this
@misc{knock_about_2026,
title = {knock about},
howpublished = {Wiktionary, via Micwyn},
year = {2026},
url = {https://micwyn.com/word/knock%20about},
urldate = {2026-11-06}
}
