About ship! 【海】 (准备)掉头!(准备)倒转航向!

a book about gardening 一本关于园艺的书
There was a quarrel about money [who should go]. 一场关于钱[谁该去]的争执
I know all about it. 我知道和它有关的一切情况.

while I am [you are] about it 当我[你]做那件事时
What is he about (=doing)? 他在做甚么?
Be quick about it.=Don't be long about it. 快点干.

about here 在这附近
people about us 我们周围的人
all he had about him 他所有的一切
There is something noble [vulgar] about him. 他身上有一种高贵[庸俗] 的气质.
revolve [turn] about the sun 围绕着太阳旋转
standing about the door 站在门附近.

There are trees dotted about the field. 田野上到处都是树.
walk about the room 在屋里来回踱步.

about five (o'clock) 五点钟左右
about the end of May 五月底前后.

about a mile 约1英里
about right [finished] 大体正确[完成了]
It's about time to start. 差不多是动身的时刻了.
I started at about five o'clock. 我是在五时左右出发的,(cf. prep. 3).★at about... (在…点钟左右)用来表示某一时刻,有人认为这一用法不当,但实际上却常被人使用.

I'm about sick of it. 我有点腻了(实际上表示完全吃不消了,讽刺语气).

There is nobody about. 这里没有人.
Is he anywhere about? 他在这里吗?
Measles is about.=There is measles about. 目前麻疹蔓延[流行].

carry money about 随身带着钱
follow sb about 跟着某人四处走动
walk about 走来走去
look about 环顾四周,四处张望
move things about 把东西挪来挪去.

tools lying about 到处乱放的工具
drop things about 把东西乱丢乱放
order one's men about 任意驱使部下[使手下的人忙得团团转]
knock about.

sit about (在等待中)心不在焉地坐着.

all about 周围全部
go a long way about 绕一个大圈走
The lake is a mile about. 这湖周长1英里
Turn about is fair play. 挨个儿轮着最公平了.

【美】About face!=【英】About turn! 向后转!或Right about face [turn] ! 也可只说一个字About !
face about
to the right about 向后转向相反的方向.

It will soon be about. 快开始了!
out and about.