dash around

USAGE SUMMARY

"dash around" is a valid expression that can be used in written English.
It means to move quickly in different directions. Example sentence: I dashed around the grocery store trying to find the ingredients needed to make dinner.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

55 human-written examples

Want to dash around and play 12 holes in 90 minutes?

The New York Times

Some visitors dash around, trying to milk their last few minutes.

The New York Times

On the first play from scrimmage, Jackson kept the football and tried to dash around right end.

The New York Times - Sports

Give yourself two days to dash around and then head north, to Byblos and Lebanon's second city, Tripoli, or east to the mountains and cedar trees, or the ancient ruins at Baalbek, in the Bekaa Valley.

The Guardian - Travel

Cue a Christmas Eve trolley dash around town.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

Many bosses also feel they must dash around the world pitching to clients.

The Economist

They're concerned, they sometimes dash around trying to do things — but then they have to leave".

The New York Times

Dash around in the afternoon rain and take another whiff of all the great smells.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

3 human-written examples

The couple's harried lives -- their relative celebrity and jammed touring schedules added to a dash-around New Jersey lifestyle -- does not always make juggling those things easy.

The New York Times

As it stands now, this pilot test is rolled out to 0.0002percentt of Viber's user base ‐ around 400 people.

TechCrunch

Although, on a strong payday, I allow myself to dream of a trolley-dash around Ryman's.

Vice

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "dash around" to vividly describe someone moving quickly and energetically in various directions, especially when they are busy or hurried.

Common error

Avoid using "dash around" with verbs that don't imply movement. It's more appropriate for actions like "running", "searching", or "preparing" than for static states like "thinking" or "analyzing".

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "dash around" is that of a phrasal verb, indicating a dynamic action. Ludwig's examples confirm its role in describing quick, often hurried movement.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Science

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "dash around" is a common and acceptable phrasal verb used to describe quick and often hurried movement in different directions. According to Ludwig, it is used in neutral register, appearing frequently in news and media sources. When writing, using "dash around" effectively means focusing on the dynamic aspect of movement. While Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness, avoid using it with static verbs. Alternatives like "rush about" or "hurry around" can be used for semantic variation.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

rush about

Emphasizes hurried activity, often without a specific destination.

scurry around

Suggests quick, light steps and a sense of nervousness or urgency.

hurry around

Focuses on the speed of movement to various places.

zip around

Implies moving quickly and efficiently between places.

whiz around

Suggests rapid movement, often in a circular or random manner.

fly around

Conveys a sense of lightness and speed in movement.

tear around

Implies reckless or uncontrolled speed.

race around

Highlights the competitive aspect of moving quickly.

bustle about

Focuses on energetic and busy movement, typically in a crowd.

scramble around

Implies a disorganized, hurried effort to move.

FAQs

What does "dash around" mean?

"Dash around" means to move quickly in different directions, often because you are busy or in a hurry.

How can I use "dash around" in a sentence?

You can use "dash around" to describe someone moving quickly, for example: "I had to dash around the office to get everything ready before the meeting."

What are some alternatives to "dash around"?

You can use alternatives like "rush about", "hurry around", or "zip around" depending on the context.

Is "dash around" formal or informal?

"Dash around" is generally considered an informal expression suitable for everyday conversation and writing, but it can also appear in news or journalistic contexts.