Colloquial Variant guide

arse around

verb · 3 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

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1

verb

Meaning 1

To behave in a clownish, irresponsible or inefficient manner.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: Commonwealth, Ireland, UK, intransitive, slang, vulgar

Examples

  • Quit arsing around and get to work!

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

2

verb

Meaning 2

indulge in horseplay

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • Enough horsing around--let's get back to work!
  • The bored children were fooling about

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: horse around, fool around, fool

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: joke, jest, play

3

verb

Meaning 3

be lazy or idle

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • Her son is just bumming around all day

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: bum, bum around, bum about, arse about, fuck off, loaf, frig around, waste one's time, lounge around, loll, loll around, lounge about

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: idle, laze, slug, stagnate

History

Etymology

No etymology was provided for this word.