bash around
To mistreat something or someone; to treat forcefully or roughly. A noun or pronoun can be used between "bash" and "around." Please be careful not to bash my phone around when you borrow it. If I see my neighbor bashing around his pets, I will call the police.
bash someone or something around
to treat someone or something roughly (physically or figuratively); to beat on or abuse someone or something (physically or otherwise). Stop bashing me around, and let's talk. The robber acted as though he was about to bash around his victims.