about

[ə'baut] 1. adv

1) (approximately) około +gen

about a hundred/thousand — około stu/tysiąca

at about 2 o'clock — około (godziny) drugiej

I've just about finished — prawie skończyłem

2) (referring to place) dookoła

to leave things lying about — zostawiać (zostawić perf) wszystko porozrzucane dookoła

to run about — biegać dookoła

3)

to be about to do sth — mieć właśnie coś zrobić

he was about to leave — właśnie miał wyjść

2. prep

1) (relating to) o +loc

we talked about it — rozmawialiśmy o tym

what/how about going out tonight? — (a) może byśmy gdzieś wyszli (dziś) wieczorem?

2) (referring to place) po +loc

to walk about the town — spacerować po mieście

* * *

1. preposition

(on the subject of: We talked about our plans; What's the book about?)

2. preposition, adverb

1) ((sometimes round about) near (in place, time, size etc): about five miles away; (round) about six o'clock; just about big enough.) około

2) (in different directions; here and there: The children ran about (the garden).) dookoła, po

3) (in or on some part (of a place etc): You'll find him somewhere about (the office).) w pobliżu

4) (around or surrounding: She wore a coat about her shoulders; He lay with his clothes scattered about.) na, dookoła

3. adverb

((in military commands etc) in the opposite direction: About turn!) w tył

- be about to