show someone around

/ʃəʊ ˈsʌmwʌn əˈraʊnd/

Meaning

To act as a guide for someone who is visiting a new place (like a house, city, or office) for the first time, pointing out the main features, rooms, or areas of interest.

Examples

  • Our new colleague is starting today; could you show her around?

    Our new colleague is starting today; could you show her around?

  • When my cousins visited Chicago, I spent the weekend showing them around.

    When my cousins visited Chicago, I spent the weekend showing them around.

  • Welcome to our school! Let me show you around the campus.

    Welcome to our school! Let me show you around the campus.

  • He kindly offered to show us around his hometown.

    He kindly offered to show us around his hometown.

  • We bought a new house, and we can't wait to show everyone around.

    We bought a new house, and we can't wait to show everyone around.

Common Mistakes

  • ✗ I will show around you.

    ✓ I will show you around.

    This is a separable phrasal verb. The object pronoun ('you', 'him', 'them') must go between 'show' and 'around'.

  • ✗ She showed me around of the museum.

    ✓ She showed me around the museum.

    Do not use the preposition 'of' after 'around'. 'Around' acts as the preposition here.

Related Expressions

give someone a tourguide someoneshow someone the ropes

Practice

  • Since it's your first day, I'll ___ the office.

    💡 Give you a quick tour.

    Show answer

    show you around

  • Who is going to ___ the new guests?

    💡 Give them a tour.

    Show answer

    show around