fool around
Idioms-
Also, monkey around . Engage in idle or casual activity, putter. For example, Jim loved to fool around with his computer , or She was monkeying around with some figures in hopes of balancing the budget . [Second half of 1800s]
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Engage in frivolous activity, waste time. For example, Instead of studying, he spends all his spare time fooling around . Also see fool away .
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Engage in flirting or casual sexual acts; also, engage in adultery. For example, He caught the two teenagers fooling around in the basement . [1830s]
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Nodding his head, Grandpa said, “If they get that telegram tonight, I don’t think they’ll fool around. From what they told me, those monkeys are really valuable to that circus.”
From Literature
He later apologized on X, claiming he had "badly used the expression... in a metaphorical way to mean 'fooling around'".
From BBC
“That means it could just be kids from school, fooling around. They wouldn’t know your old address.”
From Literature
The transition was rough for Ansari, who wasn’t fluent in English and often got in trouble for fooling around in school.
From Los Angeles Times
She’s been fooling around on the drums and has had the idea to form a rock band to play at a local talent show, “for a laugh.”
From Los Angeles Times
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
