scattering

scatter (something) to the four winds

To disperse something across a wide area. College has really scattered our family to the four winds. We've got four kids in four different states now!

See also: four, scatter, to, wind

scatter about

1. To strew, distribute, or disperse things all around (some place), especially in a haphazard or aimless manner. A noun or pronoun can be used between "scatter" and "about." I leaped into the pile of leaves and scattered them about. The cat jumped onto my desk and scattered about all my important documents. I scattered my grandmother's ashes about the field, as she instructed in her will.

2. To separate and distribute rays of light in many different directions. A noun or pronoun can be used between "scatter" and "about." The crystal scatters the sunlight about in a myriad of colors. The gems in the cave scattered about the light from the flashlight.

See also: scatter

scatter around

1. To strew, distribute, or disperse things all around (some place), especially in a haphazard or aimless manner. A noun or pronoun can be used between "scatter" and "around." I leaped into the pile of leaves and scattered them around. The cat jumped onto my desk and scattered around all my important documents. I scattered my grandmother's ashes around the field, as she instructed in her will.

2. To separate and distribute rays of light in many different directions. A noun or pronoun can be used between "scatter" and "around." The crystal scatters the sunlight around in a myriad of colors. The gems in the cave scattered around the light from the flashlight.

See also: around, scatter

Farlex Dictionary of Idioms. © 2024 Farlex, Inc, all rights reserved.