# clown around

CEFR B1 · Phrasal verb

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/clown-around
Updated: 2026-04-24

## Definition

to behave in a silly or funny way to make people laugh.

For teachers: to engage in frivolous or playful behavior, often for the purpose of amusement or to avoid serious tasks.

## Examples

- Stop clowning around and finish your homework.
- The kids were clowning around in the back of the car during the long drive.
- While the manager was away, the junior staff spent the afternoon clowning around instead of preparing the quarterly reports.

## Pitfalls

- Not "He was clowning about the room." but "He was clowning around the room." — while 'clown about' is also used, 'clown around' is the more common fixed phrasal verb form in many dialects.

## Usage notes

- often used as an imperative to tell someone to be serious.
- Teaching tip: the verb is derived from the noun 'clown'; it carries a slightly more negative or dismissive tone than 'playing' when used by an authority figure.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.