Definition of see about

The expression "see about" has a long and somewhat unclear history in the English language. Its origin can be traced back to the 18th century, and it has often been the subject of linguistic debate due to its lack of familiarity as a standard grammatical structure. The phrase "see about" isn't a traditional idiom or phrasal verb like "call off" or "calm down." Instead, it's a conversation filler that's used to signal a request for action or further information. In simpler terms, it means to take care of something or find out more about it for someone. One hypothesis suggests that the phrase originated from the archaic expression "I'll see after it," which was shortened over time. This theory is plausible since the meanings of both "see about" and "see after" stem from the Old English word "secgan," meaning "to see" or "to observe." An alternative explanation is that "see about" derives from the earlier phrase "see concerning," which, in turn, developed from the Latin verb "concernere," meaning "to join together" or "reference." Regardless of its origin, the usage of "see about" has become widespread in everyday speech, and its meaning has become so familiar that it's now considered a conventional part of the English language.