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Glite Dictionary
been around the block

been around the block

6 8.1
A person who has a lot of experience from many situations
  • idiom
  • Informal
translation icon : tener experiencia
  • She had been around the block a few times before she met Lucky—that was for sure.
  • been around the block enough times
  • been around the block a few
  • been around the block a couple

And so I would say to myself, yeah, you've been around the block a few times, you know, a thing or two.

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Examples

  • Having worked in various roles for over a decade, she has been around the block in this industry.

  • Anyone who has been around the block a few times in life knows this well.

    Blog text (21)

  • We know that she has been around the block in terms of dating professional athletes.

    Blog text (14)

  • I've been around the block a few times.

    Planes: Fire & Rescue (2014)

  • You've been around the block a few times.

    Fiction book (1992)

  • They tend to favor the kid who has been around the block a few times.

    Blog text (9)

  • The teacher, who has been around the block, knows how to handle difficult students effectively.

  • After years in the business, he has certainly been around the block and knows all the tricks.

Synonyms

experienced
vsbeen around the block
138 2.1

Someone who has a lot of skill and knowledge from doing something many times

is about broad experience across many different situations and challenges
seasoned
vsbeen around the block
34 4.0

A person with a lot of experience and skill in a job

is about broad experience across varied situations and challenges
been to the rodeo
vsbeen around the block
  • Informal
9.8

To know how to handle hard situations

is about general considerable experience across various situations rather than only hardship

Antonyms

naive
312 4.1

Not experienced and too ready to trust others

inexperienced
66 3.4

Not having much skill or practice

How Experienced

veteran
153 4.1
seasoned
34 4.0
been around the block
  • Informal
6 8.1
experienced
138 2.1
new
∞ 2.1

Surface Forms

been around the block positive

Morphology

be + around + the + block

The components ('be' + 'around' + 'the block') can suggest a literal meaning of having physically gone around a neighborhood block, but the common use is a metaphorical extension meaning 'having experience' or 'being worldly'. This non-literal shift is partially predictable from 'around' (having been in many places/situations) but still idiomatic enough that a B1 learner who only knows the words would likely not reliably infer the intended meaning without exposure.

Etymology

Been around the block comes from the idea of someone who has walked around the same block many times and so has seen a lot of people and problems. So, it means 'experienced' or 'has seen a lot'.