knock about

verb

1. intr, adverb to wander about aimlessly
2. intr, preposition to travel about, esp as resulting in varied or exotic experience

   he's knocked about the world a bit

3. intr, adverbfoll bywith to associate

   to knock about with a gang

4. tr, adverb to treat brutally

   he knocks his wife about

5. tr, adverb to consider or discuss informally

   to knock an idea about

noun

1. a sailing vessel, usually sloop-rigged, without a bowsprit and with a single jib

adjective

1. rough; boisterous

   knockabout farce

Idioms and Phrases

Also, knock around .

Example Sentences

The ruling had the effect of knocking about $16 million off expected income from the property owners.

From Seattle Times

But regulators turned down the request last month, knocking about 20% off Metro's share price.

From BBC

It wasn’t a truant officer at his door, though — no one had ever come knocking about that.

From Seattle Times

There will always be twisted murderers knocking about, and Luther can't resist when they bait him.

From Salon

An asteroid minding its own business not too far from Earth is about to get knocked about by a visitor from our planet.

From New York Times