round on meaning
round on
! Round upon is more formal than round on, and is used mostly in writing.
round on/upon sb BrE to suddenly attack someone when they do not expect it, either physically or by speaking angrily to them:
▪ Harry got up out of his seat in a flash and rounded on the man: "Don't dare to speak to me that way. If you insult me again I'll punch your fat head."
▪ Sibyl rounded on him, knife in hand, and he moved back out of her reach.
■ SIMILAR TO: turn on/upon
! Round upon is more formal than round on, and is used mostly in writing.
round on/upon sb BrE to suddenly attack someone when they do not expect it, either physically or by speaking angrily to them:
▪ Harry got up out of his seat in a flash and rounded on the man: "Don't dare to speak to me that way. If you insult me again I'll punch your fat head."
▪ Sibyl rounded on him, knife in hand, and he moved back out of her reach.
■ SIMILAR TO: turn on/upon
Examples
More: Next- no one would be prying round on a day like this.
- his mind sagged round and round on the same track.
- i turned round on the bus and who should be sitting behind me but my.
- she was being pushed round on the chess-board again
- the skater spun round and round on the ice
