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In a TV show I am watching, I just came across a strange expression :

[...] you're just wandering about.

I don't understand at all. What is the about for?

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up vote 4 down vote accepted

It's an intransitive preposition (or in traditional grammar, an adverb) which indicates where the subject is wandering. Here's how Collins defines it:

here and there; from place to place; in no particular direction ⇒ walk about to keep warm

It doesn't change the meaning of wander very much, but it's a common collocation and it sounds more natural to add it than leave it out. It emphasizes the lack of a particular destination.

Wander around is a similar phrase which is a little bit less formal.

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Ok thank you ! :) –  Trevör Anne Denise Apr 28 '14 at 14:19

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