be on about
phr. v..phr. v.. to talk about something for a long time, often in a way that is confusing or annoying.
phr. v.. to speak at length about a particular topic; frequently used in interrogative or negative constructions to express confusion or impatience regarding the speaker's intended meaning.
I have no idea what you are on about.
He was on about his new car again for the entire lunch break.
The lecturer was on about some obscure 18th-century poet, but the students struggled to follow his train of thought.
- Particles
- on about
- Separability
- inseparable
- Pattern
- be + on + about + object
highly informal and most common in British, Australian, and New Zealand English.
this is almost always used in the continuous form ('be on about') and is a great way to teach learners how to express mild frustration with a speaker's lack of clarity.
What do you on about?What are you on about?this phrase requires the auxiliary verb 'be' because it functions as a continuous state of talking.