bounce around
Idioms-
Move around from one person or place to another. For example, The staff spent the morning bouncing around ideas to improve sales , or She had been bouncing around from one job to another . This term alludes to a ball bouncing among players. [ Colloquial ; mid-1900s]
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Treat roughly or unfairly, as in Quit bouncing me around; I won't stand for it . This usage is based on a somewhat earlier meaning of bounce , “to beat up” or “coerce.” ] Slang ; c. 1970]
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
“I’ve watched the brand over the years sort of bounce around and not do anything,” Siegel said.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 22, 2026
In “Bluey: Bust-a-Move,” you can bounce around as Bluey, Bingo, Mum or Dad.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Nov. 23, 2025
I’ll have to bounce around a little, but don’t worry: I’ll try to keep it to the past 425 years.
From Barron's ● Nov. 21, 2025
Hearing it bounce around the Beacon felt like a sanctioned rebellion.
From Slate ● Jun. 30, 2025
But they tend to bounce around a lot.
From "The Martian" by Andy Weir
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
