be about
1. To be focused on a particular thing or subject. What's his new book about? The title sounds pretty vague. The movie is shockingly good considering it's about an alien invasion in modern-day Paris. I'm pretty impressed that your whole term paper is about one minor character in the book.
2. To be in a particular place or area. Is Ray still about? I have a question for him. Yeah, I'm pretty sure Caitlin's about. Do you want me to go find her? Is the boss about or did he go up to the conference room already?
3. To be on the verge of doing something. Oh, I was just about to put the roast in the oven when the doorbell rang—that's why dinner isn't ready yet. I'm about to go to work, sweetie. Can it wait until tonight? I was just about to call him, so I'll give him your message too.
4. To be inclined to do something. In this usage, the phrase is usually used in negative constructions. I'm not about to tell my boss how to do her job—I'd like to keep my own job, thank you very much! I'm not about to work on this after hours if the deadline isn't until next month. Jane wasn't about to pay all that extra money just to get a different color.
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms. © 2024 Farlex, Inc, all rights reserved.
be about
v.1. To be present and active in a place or region: Are there any bees about? I'd like to take a walk in the woods, and I hope there are no bears about.
2. To be actively engaged in something, especially a regular activity: I was about my usual shopping that morning when a mysterious aircraft appeared in the sky.
3. To be at the point of doing something. Used with the infinitive: That book is about to fall off the shelf. I was just about to leave when they told me to stop.
4. To be willing or prepared to do something. Used negatively: I'm not about to tell anyone the secret and ruin the surprise!
The American Heritage® Dictionary of Phrasal Verbs. Copyright © 2005 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.