Use 'knock around' when describing leisurely, unplanned exploration or time-passing activities.

Casual Exploration

'Knock around' suggests a lack of a fixed itinerary or agenda.

No Destination

'Knock around' can imply physical or verbal mistreatment that shouldn't be taken lightly.

It can describe scenarios that involve emotional abuse or domination.

Use it to express the action of informally discussing and brainstorming ideas without pressure.

It's useful when you're exploring options, but haven't made any decisions yet.

Use it when something is misplaced but believed to be nearby, often in an informal context.

Often pertains to items that are not neatly stored but instead casually placed somewhere.