clown around
5 synonyms and 3 antonyms for clown around, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.
Verb — To behave in a silly, playful way instead of taking a situation seriously, usually to entertain other people or to avoid getting on with the task at hand.
Synonyms
Rare, literary or technical
Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.
mess about
fool around
muck about
horse around
lark about
Antonyms
How to use clown around
The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.
stop clowning around
clowning around in class
clown around with
Informal. Most often said by an adult telling somebody to stop.
Etymology
A phrasal verb from clown, the circus performer, in the sense of behaving like one.
Full origin of clown around →Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between clowning around and horsing around?
Clowning around emphasises being funny — playing the fool for an audience. Horsing around emphasises rough physical play like wrestling and shoving, which is why it is the phrase adults use when someone is about to break something.
Is clown around the same as fool around?
In the sense of behaving sillily, yes. But fool around has two extra meanings — to tinker aimlessly with something, and to have a casual sexual encounter — that clown around does not.
