knock about
phrasal verb. B2 Upper Intermediate Oxford
phrasal verb. to move around or travel in a casual or aimless way — often used in British English.
phrasal verb. to move around or travel in a casual or aimless manner; transitive, informal, typically used in British English with a place or area as object.
He's been knocking about the city all day.
After finishing work, she decided to knock about the town for a few hours.
The artist spent months knocking about Europe, sketching scenes from various cities.
From knock (verb) + about.
- wander around
- roam
- travel around
- stay put
- remain stationary
- Particles
- about
- Separability
- inseparable
- Pattern
- knock + about + object
Usage
common in British English; typically followed by a place or area.
Teaching tip
contrast with 'wander around' (more general) and 'roam' (more purposeful); 'knock about' carries a casual, sometimes aimless connotation unique to British English.