faffing
Puttering without purpose
Faffing is puttering around without accomplishing much, wasting time on trivial or aimless activity.
Chiefly British.
Someone who's faffing about might be adjusting things that don't need adjusting or dithering over small decisions: Stop faffing and let's go.
The word suggests mild exasperation with inefficiency rather than serious criticism.
Prolonged indecisive hesitation
- potteringAimless light activity
- fiddlingAimless, restless manipulation
- putteringUnhurried aimless activity
- messing aboutIdle, aimless activity
mucking about · tinkering · footling · futzing · mooching · noodling · frittering · dawdling
Leisurely time-wasting
- delayingCausing later occurrence
- stallingIntentional delay tactics
- dilly-dallyingWasting time indecisively
- tarryingRemaining beyond expected time
dragging feet · putting off · time-wasting · loafing · idling · lollygagging · killing time · goofing off
Delay from uncertainty
- waveringShowing unsteady resolve
- vacillationInability to choose
- ditheringProlonged indecisive hesitation
- haveringNonsensical, hesitant speech
hemming and hawing · waffling · equivocation · prevarication · second-guessing · flip-flopping · blowing hot and cold · sitting on the fence
Intense weary annoyance
- frustrationDispleasure from blocked efforts
- irritationMild anger or inflammation
- impatienceIntolerance of delay
- aggravationState of being vexed
vexation · irksomeness · time-wasting · inefficiency · uselessness · pointlessness · unproductiveness · aggravating
dithering
Prolonged indecisive hesitation
- potteringAimless light activity
- fiddlingAimless, restless manipulation
- putteringUnhurried aimless activity
messing about · mucking about · tinkering · footling · futzing · mooching · noodling · frittering · dawdling · meandering
dawdling
Leisurely time-wasting
- delayingCausing later occurrence
- stallingIntentional delay tactics
- dilly-dallyingWasting time indecisively
tarrying · dragging feet · putting off · time-wasting · loafing · idling · lollygagging · killing time · goofing off · slacking
hesitation
Delay from uncertainty
- waveringShowing unsteady resolve
- vacillationInability to choose
- ditheringProlonged indecisive hesitation
havering · hemming and hawing · waffling · equivocation · prevarication · second-guessing · flip-flopping · blowing hot and cold · sitting on the fence · uncertainty
exasperation
Intense weary annoyance
- frustrationDispleasure from blocked efforts
- irritationMild anger or inflammation
- impatienceIntolerance of delay
aggravation · vexation · irksomeness · time-wasting · inefficiency · uselessness · pointlessness · unproductiveness · aggravating · maddening
faffinggetting things done
Accomplishing tasks effectively
taking action · accomplishing · achieving · executing · cracking on
faffingcommitting
Carrying out an act
taking the plunge · cutting to the chase · deciding · resolving · taking charge
faffingstriving
Earnest sustained endeavor
toiling · laboring · going hard · pushing forward · slogging
- faffing aroundAimless, unproductive activity
- faffing aboutAimless time-wasting