Fool around with Meaning in English

expression

US

ˈfuɫ/ /ɝˈaʊn/, /ɝˈaʊnd/ /ˈwɪð/, /ˈwɪθ/, /wɪð/, /wɪθ

FOOL-uh-ROUND-with

UK

fˈuːl/ /ɐɹˈaʊnd/ /wˈɪð

FOOL-uh-ROUND-with

Definition

To behave in a silly or playful way with someone or something; can also mean to have a casual romantic or sexual relationship, or to handle something without being serious.

Usage & Nuances

Informal and sometimes suggestive. Can refer to joking/playing, casual dating, or experimenting with objects. Context determines if it's playful, romantic, or both. Avoid in formal contexts; clarify if you mean romance or just 'playing.'

• Spanish: tontear con - enredar con - juguetear con
• Portuguese (BR): brincar com - mexer com - flertar com
• Portuguese (PT): brincar com - mexer com - flirtar com
• Chinese (Simplified): 和...瞎搞 - 和...调情 - 摆弄
• Chinese (Traditional): 和...瞎搞 - 和...調情 - 擺弄
• Hindi: के साथ मज़ाक करना - छेड़छाड़ करना - उलझना
• Arabic: يعبث مع - يلهو مع - يتلاعب مع
• Bengali: খেলাধুলা করা - ঠাট্টা মজা করা - প্রেম করার অর্থে সময় কাটানো
• Russian: дурачиться с - возиться с - встречаться (слегка, романтически)
• Japanese: ふざける - いじる - 軽い関係を持つ
• Vietnamese: nghịch ngợm với - đùa giỡn với - yêu đương (thoáng qua)
• Korean: 장난치다 - 만지작거리다 - 썸 타다 (연애적)
• Turkish: oyalanmak - şakalaşmak - gönül eğlendirmek
• Urdu: مذاق کرنا - کھیلنا - دوستی کرنا (رومانوی طور پر)
• Indonesian: bermain-main dengan - bercanda dengan - berhubungan santai

Example Sentences

Please don't fool around with my phone.

basic

The kids love to fool around with water in the garden.

basic

He likes to fool around with computers after school.

basic

Are you two fooling around with each other?

natural

He got in trouble for fooling around with fireworks downtown.

natural

I saw Jane fooling around with Tom at the party last night.

natural