horsing around
Goofing off boisterously
Horsing around is playful, boisterous behavior—roughhousing, joking, or goofing off without serious purpose.
The phrase often carries mild disapproval, suggesting the behavior is disruptive or inappropriate to the setting: Stop horsing around and finish your homework.
Also *horse around* as a verb: The kids were horsing around in the pool.
- tomfooleryFoolish or silly behavior
- larkingPlayful, carefree activity
- goofing offIdling instead of working
- anticsAbsurd, attention-seeking behavior
- roughhousingRowdy physical play
rough and tumble · buffoonery · shenanigans · high jinks · monkey business · clowning · cavorting · mucking about · mischief · having a laugh · rollicking · joking · gamboling · pranks · scrapping · frolicsome · ruckus · rambunctious
- Horse Idiomsworkhorse, one-trick pony, pony up, horsepower
- funamusement, entertainment, excitement, joy, merriment
- humorjoke, jokes, joking, comedy, comic
- kids playplaytime, playing, board games, blocks, card games
- leisurerecreation, pastimes, downtime, free time, relaxation
- behaviorshabit, aggressive, agitation, conduct, passive
horsing aroundgetting down to business
Focusing on the task
getting things done · toiling · laboring · toeing the line · grinding
horsing aroundworking
In active function
focusing · concentrating · buckling down · paying attention · knuckling down
around, horse, horses, horseshoe, horseback, horseplay, horseman, horsey, horsing