fiddling about
Wasting time idly
Fiddling about is passing time aimlessly or making minor adjustments without real purpose.
British speakers favor this phrasing; Americans tend toward fiddling around.
Both suggest unproductive activity—tinkering without accomplishing much: Stop fiddling about and help me with dinner.
The phrase can also imply improper conduct, especially sexual: He'd been fiddling about with his secretary.
- tinkeringCasual, unskilled adjusting
- puttering aroundLeisurely aimless activity
- loafingPassing time idly
- tweakingSlight adjustment process
- potteringAimless light activity
twiddling · twisting · dawdling · idling · delaying · playing · dithering · stalling · frolicking · goofing off · noodling · meandering · fumbling · adjusting · messing around · fooling around · horsing around · farting around
fiddling aboutapplying oneself
Focused sustained effort
buckling down · knuckling down · productive labor · concentrating · getting things done
fiddling aboutconcentrating
Directing mental effort narrowly
focusing · paying attention · zeroing in · honing in · engrossed
fiddle, fiddling, fiddler, fiddlers, fiddled, fiddles, about