0
USF Posted 14 years ago
Vocabulary

about/around.

Hi,
I was reviewing some of phrasal verbs that have "around" particles.

Boss sb around/about
Kick sb around
Knock sb around
Push sb around
Order sb around

Here is my analysis: I think (with help of other people in EnglishForum) around bears the meaning of "from every direction"

Boss sb abour/around : Acting as a boss in every matters.
Kick sb around: Kick sb completely. In every possible ways.
Knock sb around: Like "Kick sb around".
Push sb around: imagine someone who is pushed by others in a corner. Like he/she has quite no other way, and she/he has to bear the pressures.
Order sb around: sth like "push sb around".

Do you think I did a correct analysis?
Thanks.
  

Top answer

" They kicked it all over the pitch. They kicked it in various directions and to random parts of the pitch. So, when you kick someone around, you use impact from your foot to propel them in various directions, figuratively.

  • " They kicked it all over the pitch.
  • They kicked it in various directions and to random parts of the pitch.
  • So, when you kick someone around, you use impact from your foot to propel them in various directions, figuratively.
  • Same goes for "push".
  • When you boss someone around, you make them go here and there.
Free · every Monday

Get the Weekly English Kit 📬

New words, one handy idiom, and a 2-minute quiz — delivered to your inbox to keep your streak alive.

6 Answers
0
It's more like "to every direction." The basic form is seen in "They kicked the ball around the pitch for a few minutes." They kicked it all over the pitch. They kicked it in various directions and to random parts of the pitch. So, when you kick someone around, you use impact from your foot to propel them in various directions, figuratively. Same goes for "push".

When you boss some
0
enoonyou make go here and there.
Thanks, enoon. Could you describe boss around a little more?
0
I made a mistake in that post which I have now corrected. Sorry about that.

To boss (someone) around is more figurative than the others. We don't take the "around" as literally there. Still, the idea is not that you as boss are going around, the person being bossed is the one who is being moved around.
0
Don't worry, you are very helpful, and I must be grateful for your help, and I am Emotion: smile .
However, can you give me some example?
0
I said it was figurative.

"Ralph, tired of his wife bossing him around, drove small carrots into his earholes with a tenderizing mallet so he couldn't hear her any more." I don't know what you want examples of. "Christine, after her promotion to sub-assistant manager, started trying to boss all of us around—'Do this. Do that. Bring me some coffee. Stop sitting naked on the copier and faxi
0
Emotion: smile OK. Thanks, enoon.

Related Questions