Fool around Meaning in English

expression

US

UK

Definition

To behave in a silly or playful way instead of being serious, or to waste time. It can also mean to be involved in a casual romantic or sexual relationship.

Usage & Nuances

Informal; can mean playing/being silly ('The kids are fooling around'), not working seriously, or, especially among adults, casual romantic/sexual involvement ('They were fooling around'). Context makes the intended meaning clear.

• Spanish: tontear - hacer el tonto - perder el tiempo - tener un lío (romántico/sexual)
• Portuguese (BR): brincar - fazer palhaçada - enrolar - ficar (romântico/sexual)
• Portuguese (PT): brincar - fazer palhaçadas - andar a enrolar - ter um caso (romântico/sexual)
• Chinese (Simplified): 胡闹 - 浪费时间 - 调情 (有时指暧昧关系)
• Chinese (Traditional): 胡鬧 - 浪費時間 - 調情 (有時指曖昧關係)
• Hindi: मस्ती करना - समय बर्बाद करना - छेड़छाड़ करना (रोमांटिक/यौन)
• Arabic: يعبث - يضيع الوقت - يتسلى (أحياناً بمعنى علاقة عاطفية/جنسية)
• Bengali: দুষ্টুমি করা - সময় নষ্ট করা - প্রেম করা (নির্বিরোধ সম্পর্ক)
• Russian: валять дурака - баловаться - крутить роман (непринуждённые отношения)
• Japanese: ふざける - じゃれる - 浮気する (カジュアルな関係)
• Vietnamese: đùa nghịch - làm trò - tán tỉnh (quan hệ không nghiêm túc)
• Korean: 장난치다 - 빈둥거리다 - 바람피우다 (가벼운 관계)
• Turkish: oyalanmak - vakit öldürmek - takılmak (samimi ilişki)
• Urdu: مذاق کرنا - وقت ضائع کرنا - ناجائز تعلق رکھنا
• Indonesian: bercanda - main-main - selingkuh (hubungan santai)

Example Sentences

Please stop fooling around and finish your homework.

basic

The children fool around in the playground every day.

basic

He got in trouble for fooling around during class.

basic

We spent the whole afternoon fooling around at the beach.

natural

Are you two fooling around or is something serious going on?

natural

They were caught fooling around in the storage room.

natural