effing off
Avoiding actual work
Effing off is a euphemistic form of fucking off, used to avoid the vulgarity while keeping the force.
Like the original, it can mean wasting time or goofing around: Stop effing off and get back to work.
It also means departing, often rudely: He told them to eff off.
The euphemism allows the expression in contexts where the explicit form would be unwelcome.
- slackingAvoiding effort deliberately
- leavingAct of going away
- fleeingRapid escape from danger
- escapingDeparting confinement hastily
- running awayRapid departure from danger
shirking · absconding · skiving · defiance · procrastinating · retreating · rebellion · malingering · ditching · playing hooky · vanishing · irreverence · bolting · checking out · zoning out · nonchalance · scarper · rebelling
effing offbuckling down
Applying oneself with determination
grinding · hustling · applying oneself · getting down to business · nose to the grindstone
effing offconcentrating
Directing mental effort narrowly
focusing · paying attention · applying oneself · zeroing in · locking in