hobble about

USAGE SUMMARY

"hobble about" is correct and usable in written English. You can use it to describe someone moving awkwardly or with difficulty, often due to injury or pain. Example: After spraining his ankle, he could only hobble about the house. Alternative expressions include "limp around" and "move unsteadily."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

Now, on a good day, when the weather is picture perfect, he can hobble about four blocks, a journey that can take him an hour and a half.

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

59 human-written examples

Hobbling about, Coria lost the fourth set in a hurry.

The New York Times - Sports

"In those days we didn't have substitutes and unfortunately our right-back Len Chalmers got a bad injury and couldn't carry on in his position, so he went out to the right wing and just hobbled about," says Banks. "And that was only after 20 minutes, so we practically played the whole game with 10 fit men.

The Guardian - Sport

I was hobbling about and I can't get on a shot properly.

BBC

He practised hobbling about and decided he would be able to navigate his way around adequately.

Vice

I'd spent the previous two days hobbling about like a toddler, searching for hand holds to steady myself as I moved around my home.

Huffington Post

If you offered me an ASIMO in exchange for my Roomba, I'd turn you down, because Rosie can vacuum my entire apartment on her own in an hour, while Asimo just hobbles about like a bizarre sex puppet for an evil billionaire pedophile.

Vice

If you offered me an Asimo in exchange for my Roomba, I'd turn you down, because Rosie can vacuum my entire flat on her own in an hour, while Asimo just hobbles about like a bizarre sex puppet for an evil billionaire paedophile.

Vice

If you offered me an Asimo in exchange for my Roomba, I'd turn you down, because Rosie can vacuum my entire apartment on her own in an hour, while Asimo just hobbles about like a bizarre sex puppet for an evil billionaire pedophile.

Vice

For the rest of the film he hobbles about in varying degrees of comic agony.

The New York Times

Ozzy, nearly killed in an all-terrain-vehicle accident Dec. 8 in England, gamely hobbled about.

The New York Times - Arts

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "hobble about" when you want to emphasize the difficulty and awkwardness of moving due to a physical impairment, injury, or condition. It paints a vivid picture of someone struggling to walk.

Common error

Avoid using "hobble about" to describe casual or leisurely movement. The phrase carries a connotation of difficulty and physical impairment, so it's not suitable for describing someone simply strolling or wandering.

Linguistic Context

The phrasal verb "hobble about" primarily functions as a descriptive term indicating a specific manner of movement. It describes someone moving with difficulty or an impaired gait, often due to injury or physical limitation. This aligns with Ludwig AI's examples, which showcase its use in portraying characters or individuals struggling to move normally.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

86%

Formal & Business

7%

Science

7%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "hobble about" is a grammatically sound and commonly used phrasal verb that effectively describes movement with difficulty. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, the phrase is widely used in News & Media, though it finds occasional use in Formal & Business contexts as well. It effectively conveys a sense of physical impairment and effort, making it suitable for descriptive writing. When writing, it's important to consider the connotation of difficulty and avoid using the phrase in contexts where casual or leisurely movement is intended. Alternatives like ""limp around"", "shuffle along", and "stagger around" offer nuanced options for portraying impaired movement.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

limp around

Focuses on the uneven gait due to an injury or condition.

shuffle along

Suggests a slow, dragging movement, often associated with old age or weakness.

stagger around

Implies instability and a lack of control in movement.

totter around

Suggests a precarious and unsteady way of walking, like a child learning to walk.

falter around

Emphasizes hesitation and unsteadiness in movement.

move unsteadily

A more general term for movement lacking stability.

walk lamely

Highlights the impaired nature of the walk.

drag oneself

Indicates extreme effort and difficulty in moving.

stumble around

Implies tripping or nearly falling while moving.

lurch about

Suggests sudden, uncontrolled movements.

FAQs

How can I use "hobble about" in a sentence?

You can use "hobble about" to describe someone moving with difficulty, often due to injury or pain. For example: "After spraining his ankle, he could only hobble about the house."

What's the difference between "hobble about" and "limp around"?

"Hobble about" suggests a more pronounced difficulty in walking compared to ""limp around"". While both describe impaired movement, "hobble about" implies greater awkwardness and effort.

What can I say instead of "hobble about"?

You can use alternatives like ""limp around"", "shuffle along", or "stagger around" depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it appropriate to use "hobble about" in formal writing?

While "hobble about" is grammatically correct, it's generally more suitable for informal or narrative writing. In formal contexts, consider using more neutral terms like "move with difficulty" or "walk with impairment".