The Village Idiom

fool around

The idiom fool around means to engage in frivolous or aimless activity, often characterized by wasting time or behaving in a careless or irresponsible manner.

Filed under F

In a sentence

  • He has been warned several times not to fool around in class.
  • She told her friends that she just wants to fool around and have fun during her vacation.
  • The mechanic said that someone had been fooling around with the engine, causing the car to malfunction.

Where it comes from and how it is used

First, let's talk about the idiom "fool away".

The idiom "fool away" is another way to describe engaging in frivolous or aimless activities. It is similar to "fool around" in that it conveys the idea of playfulness or casual behavior, but "fool away" places more emphasis on wasting time or not using time effectively. It can be used in sentences like "Stop fooling away your time and get to work" or "Don't fool away your opportunities."

Next, we have the idiom "monkey around".

"Monkey around" is another way to express engaging in playful or mischievous behavior. It is often used to describe situations where someone is joking around, playing pranks, or generally being silly. It can be used in sentences like "They were just monkeying around, not taking anything seriously" or "Please stop monkeying around and focus on the task at hand."

Lastly, we have the idiom "horse around".

"Horse around" is another idiom that shares the same concept of engaging in playful or silly behavior. It is often used to describe situations where people are being energetic and boisterous, perhaps even engaging in physical play. It can be used in sentences like "The kids were horsing around in the backyard" or "They spent the entire afternoon horsing around instead of doing their homework."

Know an earlier use or a better origin story?Tell us.