Dictionary

knock about en · VERB

Pronunciation

• /ˌnɒk əˈbaʊt/ (Received-Pronunciation)
• /ˌnɑk əˈbaʊt/ (General-American)
• (General-American) audio

Etymology

From knock (verb) + about.

Meanings

1. (informal, transitive) 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.
   • I never saw quite so wretched an example of what a sea-faring life can do; but to a degree, I know it is the same with them all: they are all knocked about, and exposed to every climate, and every weather, till they are not fit to be seen. 1817 (date written), [Jane Austen], chapter III, in Persuasion; published in Northanger Abbey: And Persuasion. […], volume III, London: John Murray, […], 20 December 1817 (indicated as 1818), →OCLC, page 44:
   • [Y]oung Mustafa refused to cook rice; Farraj and Daud knocked him about until he cried; […] 1922 (date written; published 1926), T[homas] E[dward] Lawrence, “Book VI: The Raid upon the Bridges. Chapter LXXVI.”, in Seven Pillars of Wisdom: A Triumph, Garden City, N.Y.: Doubleday, Doran & Company, published 1937, →OCLC, page 424:
   • The place also got knocked about during the English Civil War, with "the spire [of its church] having been destroyed by the artillery of the Parliamentary forces". 2023 February 22, Stephen Roberts, “Reading … between the lines … to Wales”, in Rail, number 977, Peterborough, Cambridgeshire: Bauer Media, →ISSN, →OCLC, page 56:
2. (informal, transitive) To knock back a drink; to finish a drink.
3. (informal, intransitive) 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?' 1927, Ernest Bramah [pseudonym; Ernest Brammah Smith], Max Carrados Mysteries:
4. (broadly, informal, intransitive) To move or roam around aimlessly; to be in circulation. ▸ To live an unconventional life.
5. (informal, intransitive) 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. 1881, P. Chr. Asbjörnsen [i.e., Peter Christen Asbjørnsen], “A Day with the Capercailzies”, in H. L. Brækstad, transl., Round the Yule Log. Norwegian Folk and Fairy Tales, London: Sampson Low, Marston, Searle, & Rivington, →OCLC, page 77:
   • [I]n the chart-room of the steamer Nan-Shan, he stood confronted by the fall of a barometer he had no reason to distrust. […] "That's a fall, and no mistake," he thought. "There must be some uncommonly dirty weather knocking about." 1902 January–March, Joseph Conrad, “Typhoon”, in George R. Halkett, editor, The Pall Mall Magazine, volume XXVI, London: Printed by Hazell, Watson & Viney, →OCLC, chapter I, page 92, column 2:
6. (broadly, informal, intransitive) To be present at or inhabit a certain place. ▸ To engage in a relaxing activity in a place; to hang around in.
   • I like to knock about the garden on Saturdays.
7. (broadly, informal, intransitive) To be present at or inhabit a certain place. ▸ Often followed by with: to spend time companionably; to hang around.
   • I used to knock about with John when we were younger.
   • John and I used to knock about when we were younger.
8. (broadly, informal, intransitive, qualifier:usually in present participial form) To be present at or inhabit a certain place. ▸ To be mislaid in a place.
   • I’ve got some scissors knocking about in the kitchen.

Forms

Deriveds

knock-about · knockabout

Synonyms

knock around · hang about · knock around · knock around · knock round · lie around · potter about · hang around · hang around · hang · knock around · hang around · knock round · knock round · hang around · knock around · knock round · knock round · potter around

Translations (46)

mk се вр́ти (to engage in a relaxing activity in a place) · ru зависа́ть (to spend time companionably) · mk се вр́ти (to spend time companionably) · mk за́губи (to be mislaid in a place) · ru зависать (to engage in a relaxing activity in a place) · fi norkoilla (to engage in a relaxing activity in a place) · nl rondzwerven (to be mislaid in a place) · fi mukiloida (to behave violently towards or mistreat (someone or something) — see also mistreat) · fi rusikoida (to hit (someone or something) all over repeatedly) · fi hengailla (to be present at or inhabit a certain place — see also hang around, inhabit) · nl uithangen (to spend time companionably) · fi viettää aikaa ... kanssa (to spend time companionably) · fi hengata (to spend time companionably) · mk се мо́тка (to engage in a relaxing activity in a place) · fi rusikoida (to behave violently towards or mistreat (someone or something) — see also mistreat) · el αλωνίζω (to be present at or inhabit a certain place — see also hang around, inhabit) · pl pomieść (to behave violently towards or mistreat (someone or something) — see also mistreat) · fi hengata (to be present at or inhabit a certain place — see also hang around, inhabit) · fi mukiloida (to hit (someone or something) all over repeatedly) · fi hengata (to engage in a relaxing activity in a place) · el κακοποιώ (to hit (someone or something) all over repeatedly) · ru тусова́ться (to spend time companionably) · mk ма́ва (to hit (someone or something) all over repeatedly) · ru запропаститься (to be mislaid in a place) · fi pärjäillä (to live an unconventional life) · fi oleilla (to be present at or inhabit a certain place — see also hang around, inhabit) · ro cutreiera (to hit (someone or something) all over repeatedly) · tr ufalamak (to hit (someone or something) all over repeatedly) · pl pomiatać (to behave violently towards or mistreat (someone or something) — see also mistreat) · pl poniewierać (to hit (someone or something) all over repeatedly) · fi sattua olemaan (to be mislaid in a place) · mk те́па (to hit (someone or something) all over repeatedly) · fi elellä (to live an unconventional life) · pl sponiewierać (to hit (someone or something) all over repeatedly) · de rumfliegen (to be mislaid in a place) · ru зави́снуть (to spend time companionably) · fi hengailla (to spend time companionably) · fi oleilla (to engage in a relaxing activity in a place) · nl rondhangen (to engage in a relaxing activity in a place) · ru напа́сть (to hit (someone or something) all over repeatedly) · pl poobijać (to hit (someone or something) all over repeatedly) · pl wytłuc (to hit (someone or something) all over repeatedly) · mk у́дира (to hit (someone or something) all over repeatedly) · fi oleskella (to be present at or inhabit a certain place — see also hang around, inhabit) · fi asustella (to be present at or inhabit a certain place — see also hang around, inhabit) · ru напада́ть (to hit (someone or something) all over repeatedly)