Phrasal verb
kick about
Definition
phrasal verb. to move something around, often a ball, in a casual or playful way.
phrasal verb. to move something around in a loose or uncontrolled manner; typically used with a physical object, often in sports or games.
Examples
“The kids kicked the ball about the yard.”
“During the game, the players kicked the ball about the field.”
“The artist kicked the clay about the studio floor, shaping it into a sculpture.”
Examples
simple
“The kids kicked the ball about the yard.”
contextual
“During the game, the players kicked the ball about the field.”
complex
“The artist kicked the clay about the studio floor, shaping it into a sculpture.”
Usage
takes a direct object — the thing being moved around.
Teaching tip
contrast with 'kick around' (to discuss something informally) and 'kick about' (to physically move something); both are phrasal verbs but differ in meaning and register.
Phrasal verb
Particles
about
Separability
inseparable
Pattern
kick + about + object
Synonyms
Antonyms
Grammar
Scan code
englishreference.com/q/kick-about