english
1
general::
adv.
approximately; nearly:
It lasted about one hour.
adv.
almost:
He is about finished.
adv.
to reverse direction or position:
He has turned about.
adv.
all around; on every side:
He wandered about town.
prep.
on all sides of; surrounding:
There are trees about the house.
prep.
in the act or process of:
They are about to sing.
Simple Definitions
2
general::
In addition to the idioms beginning with ABOUT, Also see AT ABOUT; BEAT ABOUT THE BUSH; BRING ABOUT; CAST ABOUT; COME ABOUT; DO AN ABOUT-FACE; GET ABOUT; GO ABOUT (ONE'S BUSINESS); HOW ABOUT (THAT); JUST ABOUT; KNOCK ABOUT; LAY ABOUT; MAN ABOUT TOWN; MUCK ABOUT; NOSE ABOUT (AROUND); NO TWO WAYS ABOUT IT; ORDER SOMEONE ABOUT; OUT AND ABOUT; SEE ABOUT; SEND SOMEONE ABOUT SOMEONE'S BUSINESS; SET ABOUT; THAT'S ABOUT THE SIZE OF IT; UP AND ABOUT; WHAT ABOUT SOMEONE (SOMETHING).
American Heritage Idioms
3
general::
about
used when saying what the subject of something is:
• She’s always talking about you. • In her novels she writes about life in South Africa. • There’s something I wanted to ask you about.
on
about a particular subject:
• a book on English grammar • a report on poverty in rural areas
concerning/regarding
formal about:
• Prince Saiid answered questions concerning Kuwait’s future. • The report raises a number of questions regarding food safety.
with regard to
formal about – used especially when you want to start talking or writing about something:
• Dear Sir, I’m writing with regard to your advertisement in The Times.
re
used in business letters and in emails to introduce the subject that you are going to write about:
• Re: Friday’s meeting
Longman-Thesaurus
4
general::
Phrase(s): *(up and) about [and] *up and around
out of bed and moving about. (*Typically: be ~; get ~.) • I’m up and about, but I’m not really well yet. • The flu put Alice into bed for three days, but she was up and around on the fourth.
McGrawhill's American Idioms And Phrasal Verbs