Cool MateAbout __ of those suckers vs Around
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
About __ of those suckers
InformalTop 2,000 (common)
Around
Top 1,000 (very common)A1preposition
Most formal: AroundMost common: Around
| About __ of those suckers | Around | |
|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 //əˈbaʊt əv ðəʊz ˈsʌkəz//🇺🇸 //əˈbaʊt əv ðoʊz ˈsʌkərz// | 🇬🇧 /["/əˈraʊnd/"]/🇺🇸 /["/əˈraʊnd/"]/ |
| Meaning | Used to describe a quantity or amount of something surprising or impressive. | in a circular direction; nearby |
| Example | We caught about 10 of those suckers in our fishing trip! | The house is built around a central courtyard. |
| Register | Informal | Neutral |
| How common | Top 2,000 (common) | Top 1,000 (very common) |
| CEFR level | - | A1 |
| Part of speech | preposition | |
| Collocations | about a dozen, about a hundred, about five, about ten, about twenty | look around, turn around, walk around, get around, set around |
| Antonyms | - | away, outside |
| Common mistakes | Using a formal tone when the phrase is informal., Confusing 'about' with 'around' in some contexts. | 'Around' confused with 'around about' (wrong context)., Using 'around' when only specifying one direction., Omitting the preposition when combined with a location. |
| Usage notes | This phrase is informal and often used in casual conversation. It has a playful connotation and can be slightly sarcastic. Avoid in formal writing or settings. | Use 'around' to describe movement in a circular way or location close to something. Avoid it in highly formal contexts. |
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Frequently asked questions: About __ of those suckers vs Around
What's the difference between About __ of those suckers and Around?
About __ of those suckers: Used to describe a quantity or amount of something surprising or impressive. Around: in a circular direction; nearby
Which is more formal: About __ of those suckers and Around?
Around is the most formal of these.
Which is more common: About __ of those suckers and Around?
Around is the most common in everyday English.
Can you show an example of each?
About __ of those suckers: We caught about 10 of those suckers in our fishing trip! Around: The house is built around a central courtyard.
Can I use About __ of those suckers and Around interchangeably?
Not always. About __ of those suckers and Around are related and overlap in some contexts, but they differ in register, how common they are, and usage, so swapping one for another can change the meaning or tone. Check the differences above before substituting.