1. Home
2. Idioms
3. go around

go around

---

---

go around someone

 

1. Lit. to walk or travel in such a way as to avoid hitting or touching someone. I can't move from this place right now. You'll have to go around me.

2. Idiomatic to avoid dealing with someone. I try to go around Steve. He can be very difficult. We will want to go around the boss. He will say no if asked.

See also: around

go around

(with someone) Go to hang around (with someone).

See also: around

go around

to be enough for everyone For women over 40 there simply aren't enough men their own age to go around, she says. She believes there's plenty of hope to go around.

See also: around

go around

1. Also, go round. Satisfy a demand or need, as in Is there enough food to go around? [Mid-1800s]

2. Same as go about, def. 1.

3. go around with. Same as go with, def. 1.

4. go or run around in circles . Engage in excited but useless activity. For example, Bill ran around in circles trying organize us but to no avail. This idiom was first recorded in 1933. For what goes around comes around, see under full circle.

See also: around

go around

or go round

v.

1. To form or follow an indirect path that avoids something: Go around the fence if the gate is locked. Don't try to cross the marsh—go around.

2. To form or follow some circular path; loop around something: The cars have already gone around the track 200 times. Our bus almost tipped over when it went around the turn. This bracelet goes around your ankle.

3. To move in a circle around something: The earth goes around the sun once every 365 days. Could you go around to the back of the barn and get the ladder?

4. To rotate: We went to the back of the boat and watched the paddle wheel go around.

5. To go here and there; move from place to place: We went around the city with the tour group. I went around to all the shops looking for a particular type of perfume.

6. To walk around, or appear in public, especially in a particular state of dress: I used to go around in a bright yellow coat.

7. To pass or be passed from place to place or from person to person: A flu is going around, so make sure you wash your hands frequently. There are some strange stories going around about that empty house. A box of pencils is going around—please take one and pass it on.

8. To do something regularly or as a matter of course, especially in a carefree or selfish manner: He goes around boasting about his new watch. You can't go around expecting people to pay for you.

9. To satisfy the needs of a group. Used with the infinitive: There were not enough chairs to go around, so some of us sat on the floor. There is plenty of popcorn to go around.

See also: around