clowns around
Plays the fool
Clowns around means to behave playfully or foolishly, often to get laughs or attention: Stop clowning around and help me with this.
The phrase suggests not taking something seriously when perhaps you should be.
A person who clowns around is goofing off rather than focusing on the task at hand.
- pranksPlayful mischievous acts
- practical jokesTricks meant to amuse
- frolicsPlays in lively fashion
- horseplayBoisterous rough behavior
- anticsAbsurd, attention-seeking behavior
shenanigans · hijinks · banter · teasing · buffoonery · goofing off · slapstick · tomfoolery · jesting · mugging · making faces · playfulness · joking · having a laugh · capers · merriment · pantomime · vaudeville
clowns aroundmeans business
Intends serious action
gets down to business · buckles down · knuckles down · shapes up · settles down
clowns aroundfocuses
Concentrates attention on
applies oneself · concentrates · buckles down · gets down to business · knuckles down
clown, clowns, around, clowned, clowning, clownish, clownishly, clownishness