knock around

[phrasal verb] informal also British knock about

a knock around/about (a place) or knock around/about : to spend time in (a place) without having a goal or purpose : to wander around (a place)漫游（某地）

b knock around/about with (someone) British : to spend time with (another person)与…待在一起

a : to be considered or discussed in an informal way over a period of time（在一段时间里）被考虑，被讨论

These ideas have been knocking around [=kicking around] for years.这些观点多年来一直在讨论。

b knock around (something) or knock (something) around : to consider or talk about (ideas, plans, etc.) in an informal way非正式地考虑或谈论（想法、计划等）

We knocked the plan around for a while before we came to an agreement.在达成一致意见之前，我们商讨了一下这个计划。
They knocked around several possible names for the new car.他们给这辆新车想出了几个可供选择的名字。

knock (someone) around/about : to beat or hit (someone) badly or repeatedly用力击打；多次击打

— often used figuratively常用作比喻

chiefly British : to be lying somewhere within a general area or place在某个地方；在某处

⇒ Main Entry: ¹ knock

idiom

informal

: to spend time in (a place) without having a goal or purpose : to wander around (a place)

He spent the summer knocking around (in) Europe.

British : to spend time with (another person)

She was knocking around with her brother.

: to be considered or discussed in an informal way over a period of time

These ideas have been knocking around for years.

: to consider or talk about (ideas, plans, etc.) in an informal way

We knocked the plan around for a while before we came to an agreement.

They knocked around several possible names for the new car.

: to beat or hit (someone) badly or repeatedly

The boy was getting knocked around by bullies.

—often used figuratively

I really got knocked around at the last staff meeting.

chiefly British : to be lying somewhere within a general area or place

That jacket is knocking around here somewhere.