Use 'rattle around' to describe sounds that imply loose, unsecured objects in an empty space.

Auditory Imagery

'Rattle around' is more common in spoken English and informal settings.

Casual Speech

'Rattle around' can imply a lack of organization or that something is out of place.

When describing a person, it often conveys a sense of loneliness or insignificance in a large space.

It suggests that a space is too large for the number of people in it or the amount of use it gets.

Can indicate a temporary state, such as living in a place for a short and transient time.