kick around
kick about
To act roughly or badly to; treat badly; bully.
John likes to kick around the little boys.
Mr. Jones is always kicking his dog around.
To lie around or in a place; be treated carelessly; be neglected.
This old coat has been kicking around the closet for years.
The letter kicked around on my desk for days.
To talk easily or carelessly back and forth about; examine in a careless or easy-going way.
Bob and I kicked around the idea of going swimming, but it was hot and we were too lazy.
At first my friends were reluctant to consider my suggestion, but they finally were willing to kick it around for a while.
Herb thought that we should kick around the idea of establishing a special fund for supporting needy members of the club.
To move about often; go from one job or place to another; become experienced.
Harry has kicked around all over the world as a merchant seaman.
knock about
knock around
To travel without a plan; go where you please.
After he graduated from college, Joe knocked about for a year seeing the country before he went to work in his father's business.
know one's way around
know one's way about
learn one's way around
To understand how things happen in the world; he experienced in the ways of the world.
The sailor had been in the wildest ports in the world. He knew his way around.
To have experience and skill in an activity.
I’d used the library before, so I knew my way around and found the book quite quickly.
lie around
To be unused; inert.
This old typewriter has been lying around ever since Grandpa died.
lose ground
To go backward; retreat.
The soldiers began to lose ground when their leader was killed.
To become weaker; get worse; not improve.
The sick man began to lose ground when his cough grew worse.
When the Democrats are in power, the Republicans lose ground.
make rounds
To travel the same route, making several stops along the way.
The milkman makes his rounds every morning.
The doctor makes the rounds of the hospital rooms.
mess around
To engage in idle or purposeless activity.
Come on, you guys, - start doing some work, don't just mess around all day!
To be promiscuous; to indulge in sex with little discrimination as to who the partner is.
Allen needs straightening out; he's been messing around with the whole female population of his class.
middle ground
A place halfway between the two sides of an argument; a compromise.
John wanted to go running. Bill said it was too hot. Tom took the middle ground and suggested a hike.
The committee found a middle ground between the two proposals.