arse about
Mess around aimlessly
Arse about means to waste time or behave foolishly, doing nothing productive: Stop arsing about and help me with this.
Chiefly British.
The phrase suggests aimless activity or deliberate mischief rather than serious effort.
Also arse around.
- lazePass time idly
- mess-upAn error or failure
- faffAimless fussing about
- idleWithout activity or purpose
- fumbleHandle with clumsy fingers
mess around · dick around · blunder · loll · fool around · muddle · procrastinate · spin one's wheels · dilly-dally · dawdle · botch · flounder · flip-flop · screw up · transpose · invert · mishandle · bungle
productivity/purposefulness
arse aboutbuckle down
Apply oneself determinedly
get down to business · knuckle down · work hard · apply oneself · get cracking