tool around en · VERB
Pronunciation
- (Australia) audio
Meanings
-
(Canada, US, intransitive, transitive) To drive or jaunt about, going from place to place without any specific direction or goal.
Vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin is known for selling the jet her predecessor as Alaska governor used to tool around the state. She now has one of her own.
2008 September 5, “Palin can't say no to jet this time”, in azcentral.com, US, retrieved 06 Jul 2012:Many drivers tool around town or take long drives with cell phone in hand, one eye on the road but their mind clearly someplace else.
2005 July 14, “Editorial: Talking heads”, in Toledo Blade, US, retrieved 06 Jul 2012:Near-synonym: cruise
It's like when you were in high school, hanging out with your friends and tooling around in your parents' jalopy.
2001 April 26, “Pay-to-play space mission”, in Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel, US, retrieved 06 Jul 2012:
- (idiomatic) To spend one's time idly.
Forms
| Spelling | Features | Labels | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| tooling around | Tense=Pres, VerbForm=Part | lexicographic | |
| tools around | Number=Sing, Person=3, Tense=Pres | lexicographic | |
| tooled around | Tense=Past, VerbForm=Part | lexicographic | |
| tooled around | Tense=Past | lexicographic |
Synonyms
linger · loiter · goof around · dretch · loaf · cabbage · mill around · arse about · bum around · fart around · cruise · forslow · dick about · tool around · hang about · fanny around · laze about · clown around · piddle · pingle · fiddle around · fiddle about · drumble · lallygag · fool about · lollygag · dick around · while · laze around · stand by · diddle · fart about · arse around · faff about · mill about · fool around · fool around · fanny about · jerk off · idle · muck around · dilly-dally · faff around · goof off · tarry · laze · hang out · loaf around · dawdle · dally · lollop · loaf about · muck about · bludge · mess around · horse around · faff · hang around · waste time · lamp · footle