bum around

1. Loaf, wander idly, as in After graduating he decided to bum around Europe for a year . [Mid-1800s]

2. Frequent bars or nightclubs, as in Her father accused her of bumming around half the night and threatened to cut off her allowance . In the mid-1800s to bum was slang for going on a drinking spree. A century later, with the addition of around , it simply meant going to saloons or clubs.

Example Sentences

“He just wanted to bum around and fish.”

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We had this life that was mainly just bumming around on your bike and drinking coffee.

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Her family life was volatile, though, and she left home at 15 or so, bumming around the Bay Area.

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Of his role in the group, Fletcher humbly said, “Martin’s the songwriter, Alan’s the good musician, Dave’s the vocalist, and I bum around.”

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People were hitting the road to avoid a working life and trying to sort of bum around the country,” he said.

Read more on Seattle Times

Related Words

• drift 
• meander 
• prowl 
• ramble 
• saunter 
• stray 
• stroll 
• traipse 
• tramp 
• trek