Phrasal Verbs

hang around

This page is about the phrasal verb hang around

British and Australian English INFORMAL

Meaning

to spend time somewhere without doing anything useful

Synonym

hang about (British/Australian)

For example

  • hang around Are you just going to hang around the house all day, or are you going to go out and do something?

  • hang around The local teenagers would hang around in the park for hours after school.

Variety

This is typically used in British and Australian English but may be used in other varieties of English too.

Quick Quiz

Jimmy's mother didn't want him hanging around the house

a. doing nothing

b. doing homework

c. doing housework
a) doing nothing b) doing homework c) doing housework

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1000 Phrasal Verbs in Context

Contributor: Matt Errey