- To behave in a silly, rough, or boisterous way; to play noisily and energetically, often foolishly.
Explanation
Origin
- The term likely draws a comparison to the playful, sometimes unpredictable, and physically energetic behavior of horses, especially young ones (colts).
- Horses kicking, bucking, and running around playfully evokes the image of boisterous, physical human play.
- It implies a lack of seriousness and potentially disruptive behavior.
Synonyms & Related Expressions
Alternatives
Slang/Informal:
- Goofing off / Goofing around
- Messing about (UK/Aus)
- Acting the fool
- Cutting up (especially US South)
- Dicking around (Vulgar, implies wasting time foolishly)
- Farting around (Vulgar, similar to dicking around)
Milder:
- Playing
- Being silly
- Having fun
Describing Rough Play:
- Roughhousing
- Play fighting
Situational Appropriateness
- Informal.
- Used when talking about playful but potentially disruptive or dangerous behavior, especially with children or young people.
- Avoid using it in a formal setting unless describing someone else's informal behavior.
Misunderstanding Warnings
- Unlikely to be misunderstood in context, as the meaning is quite figurative.
Examples
- Stop horsing around and finish your homework!
- The kids were horsing around in the pool all afternoon.
- We were just horsing around, we didn't mean to break the vase.
Dialogue
Parent A: What's all that noise upstairs?
Parent B: Just the kids horsing around. I told them to keep it down.
Parent A: Well, tell them again before they break something!
Social Media Examples
- Post: Caught my dogs horsing around in the living room this morning total chaos! 😂 #doglife #playtime
- Comment: Stop horsing around in the comments section and stick to the topic!
- Tweet: Remember those days of just horsing around with friends after school? Simpler times. #nostalgia
Response Patterns
- If accused: Sorry!, Okay, okay, I'll stop., We weren't doing anything!, We were just having fun.
- If observing: Kids, settle down!, Be careful!, Looks like they're having fun.
Common Follow-up Questions/Actions
- After telling someone to stop: Checking if they complied, reiterating the instruction (I mean it!).
- After observing: Possibly joining in (if appropriate), commenting on the energy (Where do they get all that energy?), or intervening if it gets too rough.
Conversation Starter
- No. Usually used to describe or command behavior, not to start a conversation.
Intonation
- Typically, the stress falls on horsing, with a slightly exasperated or commanding tone if telling someone to stop: HORSE around.
- When describing the action, the intonation is more neutral: They were horsing around.
Generation Differences
- Widely understood across generations, though perhaps used more often by older generations when referring to younger people's behavior.
Regional Variations
- Common in most English-speaking regions (US, UK, Canada, Australia).