scatter
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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!
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.
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.
when the tree falls, the monkeys scatter
proverb When someone loses power, their supporters or followers will desert them. The phrase comes from a Chinese proverb. I'm not surprised that so many board members are stepping down now that the CEO has resigned in disgrace. When the tree falls, the monkeys scatter.
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms. © 2024 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.
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.