fool around: Idiom Meaning and Origin
What does ‘fool around’ mean?
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.
Idiom Explorer
The idiom "monkey around" means to play or fool around in a careless or mischievous manner, often wasting time or causing trouble.
The idiom "monkey around" is a commonly used expression in American English. It is used to describe the act of wasting time, goofing off, or engaging in frivolous or unproductive activities.
*kid around*
(idiomatic) To engage in playful or lighthearted joking or teasing; to not be serious.
The idiom "in vain" means to do something without achieving the desired outcome or result. It emphasizes the futility or lack of success in one's efforts.
The idiom "horse's ass" refers to someone who is foolish, incompetent, or makes a fool of themselves. It is often used to criticize someone's behavior or actions, implying that they are behaving stupidly or in a ridiculous manner.
The idiom "horse around" means to engage in playful, often rowdy or foolish behavior. It is used to describe someone who is not taking a situation seriously or wasting time by being silly or disruptive.
The idiom "hazard a guess" means to make a guess or estimation without having all the necessary information. It implies taking a risk or chance in offering an opinion or answer.
The idiom *go around the houses* has several meanings and uses that can be explored. The idiom is mainly used in British English and refers to taking a longer, indirect route or approach to something instead of taking a more direct or efficient one.
Fool's paradise is an idiom that refers to a situation or state where someone is happily deceived or living in delusion, unaware of the reality or impending trouble.
"Fool's bargain" is an idiom that refers to a deal or agreement that appears to be advantageous at first, but ultimately turns out to be a mistake or a bad decision.
The Hidden Puzzles
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."
To summarize, "fool around" is an idiom that describes engaging in frivolous or aimless activities. It can be used in various contexts to convey different meanings related to playfulness, mischief, or casual behavior. Similar idioms include "fool away", "monkey around", and "horse around".
Example usage
Examples of how the idiom "fool around" can be used 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.
More "Recreation" idioms
