Phrasal verb
ask around
Meanings
To ask several people questions in order to get information, advice, or recommendations.
To make inquiries with different people to find someone or locate something.
Definition
To ask several people for information or help.
“Ask around” means to talk to different people to find out something you don’t know. You use it when you are searching for information, recommendations, or someone who can help. It often suggests you will ask more than one person until you get an answer.
Examples
- I’ll ask around at work to see if anyone knows a good plumber.
- Can you ask around and find out what time the meeting starts?
- He asked around the neighborhood for his missing keys.
- She asked around before choosing a language course.
- They asked around at the station to find the right platform.
Common mistake
Learners often say “ask around to someone,” but “ask around” does not take “to”; say “ask someone” or “ask around” (or “ask around for/about”).
More phrasal verbs
- go on To go on means to continue or keep happening.
- carry out To carry out something means to do it or complete it, especially a plan, task, or instruction.
- set up To set up means to arrange or prepare something so it is ready to use or happen.
- pick up “Pick up” most commonly means to collect someone or something from a place, usually by going there.
- go back To go back means to return to a place, time, or earlier situation.