about

preposition

/əˈbaʊt/

Idioms

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on the subject of somebody/something; in connection with somebody/something
- a book about flowers
- Tell me all about it.
- What's she so angry about?
- There's something strange about him.
- There's something about this business that is not quite right.
- I don't know what you're on about (= talking about).
- There's nothing you can do about it now.
Language Bank about
aboutSaying what a text is about
- The book is about homeless people in the cities.
- The report deals with the issue of homelessness in London.
- The writer discusses the problems faced by homeless people.
- The article presents an overview of the issues surrounding homelessness.
- The novel explores the theme of friendship among homeless people.
- The first chapter examines the relationship between homelessness and drug addiction.
- The paper considers the question of why so many young people become homeless.
used to describe the purpose or an aspect of something
- Movies are all about making money these days.
- What was all that about? (= what was the reason for what has just happened?)
busy with something; doing something
- Everywhere people were going about their daily business.
- And while you’re about it… (= while you’re doing that)
(especially British English) in many directions in a place; here and there
- We wandered about the town for an hour or so.
- He looked about the room.
(especially British English) in various parts of a place; here and there
- The papers were strewn about the room.
(especially British English) next to a place or person; in the area mentioned
- She's somewhere about the office.
(literary) surrounding somebody/something
- She wore a shawl about her shoulders.

Idioms

how/what about…?

used when asking for information about somebody/something
- How about Ruth? Have you heard from her?
- I'm having fish. What about you?
used to make a suggestion
- How about going for a walk?
- (especially North American English) How about we go for a walk?
- What about a break?
Topics Suggestions and advicea1

about

adverb

/əˈbaʊt/

Idioms

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a little more or less than; a little before or after synonym approximately
- It costs about $10.
- They waited (for) about an hour.
- He arrived (at) about ten.
nearly; very close to
- I'm just about ready.
- This is about the best we can hope for.
(especially British English) in many directions; here and there
- The children were rushing about in the garden.
(especially British English) in no particular order; in various places
- Her books were lying about on the floor.
(especially British English) doing nothing in particular
- People were standing about in the road.
(especially British English) able to be found in a place
- There was nobody about.
- There's a lot of flu about.
- She’s somewhere about—I saw her a few minutes ago.
(specialist or formal) facing the opposite direction
- He brought the ship about.
Which Word? around / round / about
around / round / about
- Around and round can often be used with the same meaning in British English, though around is more formal:
  The earth goes round/around the sun.
  They live round/around the corner.
  We travelled round/around India.
  She turned round/around when I came in.
  In North American English only around can be used in these meanings.
- Around, round and about can also sometimes be used with the same meaning in British English:
  The kids were running around/round/about outside.
  I’ve been waiting around/round/about to see her all day.
  In North American English only around can be used in these meanings. About or around can be used in both British English and North American English to mean ‘approximately’:
  We left around/about 8 o’clock.

Word OriginOld English onbūtan, from on ‘in, on’ + būtan ‘outside of’ .

Idioms

just about (informal)

almost; very nearly
- I've met just about everyone.
- ‘Did you reach your sales target?’ ‘Just about.’
approximately
- She should be arriving just about now.

out and about

able to go outside again after an illness
travelling around a place
- We've been out and about talking to people all over the country.

that’s about all | that’s about it

used to say that you have finished telling somebody about something and there is nothing to add
- ‘Anything else?’ ‘No, that's about it for now.’

about

adjective

/əˈbaʊt/

Idioms

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Idioms

be about to do something

to be close to doing something; to be going to do something very soon
- I was just about to ask you the same thing.

be not about to do something

to not be willing to do something; to not intend to do something
- I've never done any cooking and I'm not about to start now.

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单词	about
释义	about preposition /əˈbaʊt/ /əˈbaʊt/ Idioms jump to other results on the subject of somebody/something; in connection with somebody/something a book about flowers Tell me all about it. What's she so angry about? There's something strange about him. There's something about this business that is not quite right. I don't know what you're on about (= talking about). There's nothing you can do about it now. Language Bank aboutaboutSaying what a text is about The book is about homeless people in the cities. The report deals with the issue of homelessness in London. The writer discusses the problems faced by homeless people. The article presents an overview of the issues surrounding homelessness. The novel explores the theme of friendship among homeless people. The first chapter examines the relationship between homelessness and drug addiction. The paper considers the question of why so many young people become homeless. used to describe the purpose or an aspect of something Movies are all about making money these days. What was all that about? (= what was the reason for what has just happened?) busy with something; doing something Everywhere people were going about their daily business. And while you’re about it… (= while you’re doing that) (especially British English) in many directions in a place; here and there We wandered about the town for an hour or so. He looked about the room. (especially British English) in various parts of a place; here and there The papers were strewn about the room. (especially British English) next to a place or person; in the area mentioned She's somewhere about the office. (literary) surrounding somebody/something She wore a shawl about her shoulders. Idioms how/what about…? used when asking for information about somebody/something How about Ruth? Have you heard from her? I'm having fish. What about you? used to make a suggestion How about going for a walk? (especially North American English) How about we go for a walk? What about a break? Topics Suggestions and advicea1 about adverb /əˈbaʊt/ /əˈbaʊt/ Idioms jump to other results a little more or less than; a little before or after synonym approximately It costs about $10. They waited (for) about an hour. He arrived (at) about ten. nearly; very close to I'm just about ready. This is about the best we can hope for. (especially British English) in many directions; here and there The children were rushing about in the garden. (especially British English) in no particular order; in various places Her books were lying about on the floor. (especially British English) doing nothing in particular People were standing about in the road. (especially British English) able to be found in a place There was nobody about. There's a lot of flu about. She’s somewhere about—I saw her a few minutes ago. (specialist or formal) facing the opposite direction He brought the ship about. Which Word? around / round / aboutaround / round / about Around and round can often be used with the same meaning in British English, though around is more formal: The earth goes round/around the sun. They live round/around the corner. We travelled round/around India. She turned round/around when I came in. In North American English only around can be used in these meanings. Around, round and about can also sometimes be used with the same meaning in British English: The kids were running around/round/about outside. I’ve been waiting around/round/about to see her all day. In North American English only around can be used in these meanings. About or around can be used in both British English and North American English to mean ‘approximately’: We left around/about 8 o’clock. Word OriginOld English onbūtan, from on ‘in, on’ + būtan ‘outside of’ . Idioms just about (informal) almost; very nearly I've met just about everyone. ‘Did you reach your sales target?’ ‘Just about.’ approximately She should be arriving just about now. out and about able to go outside again after an illness travelling around a place We've been out and about talking to people all over the country. that’s about all \| that’s about it used to say that you have finished telling somebody about something and there is nothing to add ‘Anything else?’ ‘No, that's about it for now.’ about adjective /əˈbaʊt/ /əˈbaʊt/ Idioms jump to other results Idioms be about to do something to be close to doing something; to be going to do something very soon I was just about to ask you the same thing. be not about to do something to not be willing to do something; to not intend to do something I've never done any cooking and I'm not about to start now.
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