Phrase guide

clown around

verb · 2 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 have fun in an irresponsible manner.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: clown about, goof around, goof off, horse around, mess about, mess around, muck about, muck around, muck up, yuk it up, fuck about, fuck around, fuck off

Antonyms: none provided

2

verb

Meaning 2

act as or like a clown

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: clown, antic

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: joke, jest

History

Etymology

No etymology was provided for this word.

Across languages

Translations

11 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Chinese Mandarin: 胡鬧 /胡闹 (húnào) — have fun in an irresponsible manner
  • Finnish: pelleillä — have fun in an irresponsible manner
  • German: herumdameln — have fun in an irresponsible manner
  • Latin: scurror — have fun in an irresponsible manner
  • Latin: dēsipiō — have fun in an irresponsible manner
  • Russian: валя́ть дурака́ (valjátʹ duraká) — have fun in an irresponsible manner
  • Swedish: spela pajas — have fun in an irresponsible manner
  • Swedish: fåna sig — have fun in an irresponsible manner
  • Swedish: spela allan — have fun in an irresponsible manner
  • Swedish: clowna runt — have fun in an irresponsible manner
  • Swedish: apa — have fun in an irresponsible manner