play about

phrasal verb

played about; playing about; plays about
British
1
: to have sex with someone who is not one's husband, wife, or regular partner
He's not the kind of guy who plays about.
often + on
She's been playing about on her husband.
often + with
She's been playing about with one of her coworkers.
2
: to deal with or treat something in a careless way
When it comes to protecting his family, he doesn't play about.
often + with
You can't play about with diabetes; it's a very serious disease.
3
: to use or do something in a way that is not very serious
It's time to stop playing about and get busy.
often + on
I spent the evening playing about on the piano/computer/Internet.
often + with
I'm not really a painter; I just like to play about with paints.

Dictionary Entries Near play about

Cite this Entry

“Play about.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/play%20about. Accessed 25 Nov. 2024.

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