rattle around
In real, traceable use. Part of the curated seed collection; community review is coming.
Meaning · English
To take up little space in a house or other building that one occupies; to live somewhere that is needlessly spacious.
Register: informal
Where it’s used:
Used
American English
Examples
His mother had died within a year after his return; his wife and newborn son, both from influenza, in 1916 when Francine was four. Now the two of them rattled around in the old house, even with his office and small clinic sharing the downstairs with the kitchen, parlor, and dining room.
Usage example from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-30)
Sources & notes
Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-30 via kaikki.org).
Common questions
What does “rattle around” mean?
To take up little space in a house or other building that one occupies; to live somewhere that is needlessly spacious.
Is “rattle around” formal or informal?
rattle around is generally informal.