fiddle away
Fritter time carelessly
To fiddle away time or money is to waste it through inattention or trivial pursuits: He fiddled away the afternoon on his phone, She fiddled away her inheritance on frivolous purchases.
The phrase suggests gradual loss through aimless activity rather than deliberate squandering.
Use up carelessly
- fritterFried batter cake
- wasteUnwanted discarded material
- misspendUse wastefully or unwisely
- dissipateGradually fade away
burn · drain · consume · deplete · misuse · trifle · kill time · pass time
Linger without purpose
- delayEnforced waiting period
- dallyLoiter without purpose
- ditherNervous inability to choose
- lingerStay beyond necessity
loiter · stall · tarry · hesitate · dilly-dally · shilly-shally · drag feet · put off
squander
Use up carelessly
dissipate · burn · drain · consume · deplete · misuse · trifle · kill time · pass time · use up
dawdle
Linger without purpose
linger · loiter · stall · tarry · hesitate · dilly-dally · shilly-shally · drag feet · put off · postpone
ignore
Refuse to notice
abandon · shirk · let slip · let slide · miss · forgo · drop the ball · brush aside · pass up
tinker
Mender of metal household wares
play · mess · futz · monkey · noodle · fidget · fuss · potter · tamper · poke
fiddle awayapply oneself
Focus diligently on something
buckle down · put to good use · get down to business · accomplish · achieve
fiddle awayconcentrate
Reduced, potent form
focus · attend to · zero in on · apply oneself · bear down