play around
To behave in a silly, childish, or irresponsible wayTo behave in a silly, childish, or irresponsible way.
» It's dangerous to play around the fire.
Es ist gefährlich, nahe am Feuer zu spielen.
Опасно играть рядом с огнём.
Небезпечно бавитися поруч із вогнем.
Meaning
3 sensesTo behave in a silly, childish, or irresponsible way.
Stop playing around, and get on with your homework.
To work with something in a non-serious manner; to tweak or tinker.
He was interested in electronics and began playing around with amplifiers.
work with in an amateurish manner
(idiomatic)To engage in sexual practices outside of marriage.
Examples
17 sentencesIt's dangerous to play around the fire.
Небезпечно бавитися поруч із вогнем.
ruОпасно играть рядом с огнём.
deEs ist gefährlich, nahe am Feuer zu spielen.
Don't play around too much after school.
Don't play around on your way home.
Don't play around on your way back home.
Are there any good places to play golf around here?
Forms
plays around, playing around, played around, played around| Base form | play around · to play around |
|---|---|
| 3rd person singular | plays around |
| Present participle | playing around |
| Past simple | played around |
| Past participle | played around |
irregular
Phrasal verbs
15 phrasal verbs- play upвитягти, витягатиUsed other than figuratively or idiomatically: see play, up.
- play offвідповідати, зійтисяTo portray (something) (as unimportant); to dismiss or make light of (a factor in a situation, or one's embarrassment about it); to pretend not to be embarrassed, upset, impressed, or otherwise affected by (it).
- play outнабридати, втомлюватисяTo play (a game etc.) to its conclusion.
- play downзрубати, зрубуватиTo make or attempt to make something seem less important, likely, or obvious.
- play alongслідувати, дотримуватисяTo take part in a charade, deception, or practical joke.
- play onTo exploit (a potential weakness or vulnerability) by exacerbating.
- play inUsed other than figuratively or idiomatically: see play, in.
- play backTo replay a recording.
More 7
- play awayTo be sexually unfaithful out of one's home
- play intoTo support (an idea or plan).
- play aroundTo behave in a silly, childish, or irresponsible way.
- play throughTo overtake a slower group of players ahead of one's own group, rather than waiting for them to finish the hole before proceeding.
- play aboutSynonym of play around.
- play withUsed other than figuratively or idiomatically: play with.
- play toUsed other than figuratively or idiomatically: see play, to.
Synonyms
3 synonyms- commit adultery:fool around
- work with in an amateurish manner:dabblesmatter
Lessons for this word
3 lessons- A1Present simple — Because it is a verb
- A1Past simple, regular verbs — Because of its past form
- A2Phrasal verbs: introduction — Because it is a phrasal verb