Phrasal verb
be on about
Definition
phrasal verb. to talk about something for a long time, often in a way that is confusing or annoying.
phrasal verb. 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.
Examples
“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.”
Examples
simple
“I have no idea what you are on about.”
contextual
“He was on about his new car again for the entire lunch break.”
complex
“The lecturer was on about some obscure 18th-century poet, but the students struggled to follow his train of thought.”
Usage
highly informal and most common in British, Australian, and New Zealand English.
Teaching tip
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.
Pitfall
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.
Phrasal verb
Particles
on about
Separability
inseparable
Pattern
be + on + about + object
Synonyms
Antonyms
Grammar
Scan code
englishreference.com/q/be-on-about