Transcription
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- US Pronunciation
- US IPA
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- [goof uh-round]
- /guf əˈraʊnd/
-
- US Pronunciation
- US IPA
-
- [goof uh-round]
- /guf əˈraʊnd/
Definitions of goof around words
- verb without object goof around to blunder; make an error, misjudgment, etc. 1
- verb without object goof around to waste or kill time; evade work or responsibility (often followed by off or around): Exam week is not a time to goof off. We goofed around till train time. 1
- verb with object goof around to spoil or make a mess of (something); botch; bungle (often followed by up): You really goofed up the job. 1
- noun goof around a foolish or stupid person. 1
- noun goof around a mistake or blunder, especially one due to carelessness. 1
- noun goof around a source of fun or cause for amusement: We short-sheeted his bunk just for a goof. 1
Information block about the term
Origin of goof around
First appearance:
before 1915 One of the 14% newest English words
1915-20; apparently variant of obsolete goff dolt < Middle French goffe awkward, stupid
Historical Comparancy
Parts of speech for Goof around
noun
adjective
verb
adverb
pronoun
preposition
conjunction
determiner
exclamation
goof around popularity
A common word. It’s meaning is known to most children of preschool age. About 81% of English native speakers know the meaning and use the word.
Most Europeans know this English word. The frequency of it’s usage is somewhere between "mom" and "screwdriver".
goof around usage trend in Literature
This diagram is provided by Google Ngram ViewerSynonyms for goof around
verb goof around
- loiter — to linger aimlessly or as if aimless in or about a place: to loiter around the bus terminal.
- niggle — to criticize, especially constantly or repeatedly, in a peevish or petty way; carp: to niggle about the fine points of interpretation; preferring to niggle rather than take steps to correct a situation.
- poke — to prod or push, especially with something narrow or pointed, as a finger, elbow, stick, etc.: to poke someone in the ribs.
- mess — a dirty, untidy, or disordered condition: The room was in a mess.
- doodle — a small pile of hay; haystack.
Antonyms for goof around
verb goof around
- leave alone — separate, apart, or isolated from others: I want to be alone.
- carry out — If you carry out a threat, task, or instruction, you do it or act according to it.
- go ahead — permission or a signal to proceed: They got the go-ahead on the construction work.
- hurry — to move, proceed, or act with haste (often followed by up): Hurry, or we'll be late. Hurry up, it's starting to rain.
- complete — You use complete to emphasize that something is as great in extent, degree, or amount as it possibly can be.
See also
Matching words
- Words starting with g
- Words starting with go
- Words starting with goo
- Words starting with goof
- Words starting with goofa
- Words starting with goofar
- Words starting with goofaro
- Words starting with goofarou
- Words starting with goofaroun
- Words starting with goofaround