Phrasal verb
gad about
Definition
phrasal verb. to travel from place to place for fun or pleasure, often instead of doing work.
phrasal verb. to travel or wander restlessly and aimlessly from one place to another in pursuit of pleasure or social activity; carries a connotation of frivolity or irresponsibility.
Examples
“He spends all his time gadding about instead of studying.”
“While her colleagues were stuck in the office, she was gadding about the city visiting various art galleries.”
“The local press criticised the mayor for gadding about at international conferences while the city's infrastructure continued to crumble.”
Examples
simple
“He spends all his time gadding about instead of studying.”
contextual
“While her colleagues were stuck in the office, she was gadding about the city visiting various art galleries.”
complex
“The local press criticised the mayor for gadding about at international conferences while the city's infrastructure continued to crumble.”
Usage
often used with 'around' instead of 'about' and frequently carries a disapproving tone.
Teaching tip
this is a relatively rare, old-fashioned phrasal verb; teach it as a way to express mild annoyance at someone's constant socialising or travel.
Pitfall
She is gadding about of the town.
She is gadding about the town.
the phrase acts as a transitive phrasal verb or is followed by a location without an extra preposition like 'of'.
Phrasal verb
Particles
about
Separability
inseparable
Pattern
gad + about (+ location)
Synonyms
Antonyms
Grammar
Scan code
englishreference.com/q/gad-about