scatter

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

scatterbrain

Someone who is very forgetful, unfocused, or disorganized. Sorry for forgetting about your recital. I've been such a scatterbrain, lately! We used to have a total scatterbrain managing our accounts, so things were all over the place for a while.

Farlex Dictionary of Idioms. © 2015 Farlex, Inc, all rights reserved.

scatter something about and scatter something around

to throw or distribute something about. The children scattered the books about and left the room in a general mess. They scattered about all the books and papers.

See also: and, around, scatter

McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs. © 2002 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.

scatterbrain

n. a forgetful person; someone who is mentally disorganized. Aunt Martha is a real scatterbrain. She always forgets where her glasses are.

McGraw-Hill's Dictionary of American Slang and Colloquial Expressions Copyright © 2006 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved.