futzing
Wasting time adjusting
Futzing is informal American English for wasting time on trivial or aimless activity, often with a connotation of fiddling with something without making real progress.
It derives from Yiddish and carries a mildly vulgar undertone, being a euphemistic alteration of a coarser term.
You might spend an afternoon futzing around in the garage or futzing with settings on your phone without accomplishing much.
The related noun futz appears in phrases like what a futz to describe someone who wastes time.
Casual, unskilled adjusting
- tweakingSlight adjustment process
- adjustingAltering to correct
- twiddlingTurning idly, aimlessly
- messingActing without serious intent
noodling · piddling · puttering · pottering · mucking · fussing · finagling · fooling
Postponing what needs doing
- dawdlingLeisurely time-wasting
- loafingPassing time idly
- lollygaggingAimless time-wasting
- idlingOperating without working
dilly-dallying · shilly-shallying · piddling · putzing · wasting time · killing time · goofing off · messing around
Altering to correct
- tweakingSlight adjustment process
- modifyingChanging partially
- repairingRestoring broken items
- fixingRestoring proper function
altering · calibrating · refining · customizing · reworking · overhauling · upgrading · tuning
Intrusive interference in others' concerns
- interferingIntruding in others' affairs
- messing withPlayfully interfering or teasing
- fiddling withIdly manipulating something
- toying withCasually considering without commitment
playing with · manipulating · mishandling · bungling · botching
tinkering
Casual, unskilled adjusting
messing · noodling · piddling · puttering · pottering · mucking · fussing · finagling · fooling · playing
procrastinating
Postponing what needs doing
- dawdlingLeisurely time-wasting
- loafingPassing time idly
- lollygaggingAimless time-wasting
idling · dilly-dallying · shilly-shallying · piddling · putzing · wasting time · killing time · goofing off · messing around · farting around
adjusting
Altering to correct
fixing · altering · calibrating · refining · customizing · reworking · overhauling · upgrading · tuning · jerry-rigging
meddling
Intrusive interference in others' concerns
- interferingIntruding in others' affairs
- messing withPlayfully interfering or teasing
- fiddling withIdly manipulating something
toying with · playing with · manipulating · mishandling · bungling · botching
- fiddlingfiddling, fiddle, fiddler, fiddle tune, fiddle tunes
futzingfocusing
Concentrating on one point
applying oneself · concentrating · buckling down · getting down to business · knuckling down
futzingaccomplishing
Successfully finishing an undertaking
producing · achieving · getting things done · making progress · completing
futzingstreamlining
Making more aerodynamic or efficient
optimizing · maximizing · hustling · expediting · dispatching
- futzing aroundIdle, unproductive dabbling