hang around

hang about phrasal verb British English (see also ↑hang)
1. spoken to move slowly or take too long doing something:
Come on, we haven’t got time to hang about!
2. hang about (something) to spend time somewhere without any real purpose:
There were always groups of boys hanging about in the square.
He normally hung about the house all day.
3. hang about! spoken
a) used to ask someone to wait or stop what they are doing
b) used when you have just noticed or thought of something that is interesting or wrong:
Hang about – that can’t be right.

Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary

hang around ( … )

ˌhang aˈround (…) derived

(informal) to wait or stay near a place, not doing very much

• You hang around here in case he comes, and I'll go on ahead.

Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary

Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary - 4th Edition

hang around (somewhere ) ( UK also hang about ) — phrasal verb with hang / hæŋ / verb

B1 to wait or spend time somewhere, usually for no particular reason:

I spent most of my youth hanging around the bars of Dublin.

I thought I'd hang around for a while and see if she comes.

hang around ( UK also hang about ) informal — phrasal verb with hang / hæŋ / verb

to move or do things slowly:

Go and pack but don't hang around - we have to go in an hour.

hang around with sb ( UK also hang about with sb ) — phrasal verb with hang / hæŋ / verb

to spend time with someone:

I got into drugs because I was hanging around with the wrong people.

Collins Advanced Learner’s English Dictionary

hang around

(in BRIT, also use hang about, hang round)
1) PHRASAL VERB If you hang around, hang about, or hang round, you stay in the same place doing nothing, usually because you are waiting for something or someone. [INFORMAL]
  [V P -ing] He got sick of hanging around waiting for me...
  [V P] On Saturdays we hang about in the park.
  [V P n] ...those people hanging round the streets at 6 am with nowhere to go.
2) PHRASAL VERB If you hang around, hang about, or hang round with someone or in a particular place, you spend a lot of time with that person or in that place. [INFORMAL]
  [V P together] They usually hung around together most of the time...
  [V P with n] Helen used to hang round with the boys.
  [V P n] ...the usual young crowd who hung around the cafe day in and day out.

Merriam-Webster's Advanced Learner's Dictionary

hang around or Brit hang about/round [phrasal verb] informal
1 hang around/about/round or hang around/about/round (a place) : to be or stay in a place for a period of time without doing much
• We just hung around all afternoon, listening to music.
• They hung around the theater after the play was over.
2 hang around/about/round with (someone) : to spend time relaxing, talking, or doing things with (someone)
• She hangs around with older kids.
• Who does he usually hang around with?