Meaning & use
toy around
Last updated
UK/ˌtɔɪ əˈraʊnd/
US/ˌtɔɪ əˈraʊnd/
Meaning
verbintransitiveinformal
To behave without a serious purpose, often wasting time or not committing.
Grammar: No object; often used with 'with' before a thing: toy around with something.
Patterns
- toy around with something
- toy around
Stop toying around and finish your homework.
He to toyed around with the idea of starting a band.
They to toyed around with different designs before choosing one.
Word forms
| third person singular | toys around |
|---|---|
| past tense | toyed around |
| past participle | toyed around |
| -ing form | toying around |
Common combinations
- toy around with an idea
- She toyed around with the idea of moving abroad.
- toy around with someone's feelings
- Don't toy around with her feelings.
- stop toying around
- Stop toying around and tell me the truth.
Synonyms and how they differ
- mess around
- Similar but often suggests doing something in a playful or silly way.
- fiddle
- To make small movements with something, often without purpose.
Opposites
Word family
Commonly confused: toy around or toy with?
toy around vs toy with
Similar, but 'toy with' can also mean to play with something in your hands.
Practice
Choose the correct sentence.
Choose one answer.
The correct pattern is 'toy around with something'. The other prepositions do not fit this phrasal verb.
Make it your own
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