Phrasal verb
bash about
Definition
phrasal verb. to treat something roughly or hit it many times so that it gets damaged.
phrasal verb. to subject an object to physical abuse or rough handling, resulting in superficial or structural damage; often used in the passive voice to describe the condition of an item.
Examples
“Don't bash your toys about like that.”
“The old suitcase was bashed about during the long flight, leaving it covered in scuffs and dents.”
“After years of being bashed about in the back of the delivery van, the equipment finally ceased to function altogether.”
Examples
simple
“Don't bash your toys about like that.”
contextual
“The old suitcase was bashed about during the long flight, leaving it covered in scuffs and dents.”
complex
“After years of being bashed about in the back of the delivery van, the equipment finally ceased to function altogether.”
Usage
common in British English; often used when talking about luggage, vehicles, or household items.
Teaching tip
contrast with 'bash up' which implies more severe, often intentional destruction; 'bash about' suggests careless handling over time.
Pitfall
The car was bashed about of the hail.
The car was bashed about by the hail.
use 'by' to indicate the cause of the damage, as 'about' is a particle, not a preposition taking 'of'.
Phrasal verb
Particles
about
Separability
optional
Pattern
bash (+ object) + about