futzing around
Aimless trivial activity
Futzing around is aimless, unproductive activity—tinkering without real purpose or wasting time on trivial matters: I spent the morning futzing around with the printer settings.
The phrase implies mild disapproval of time poorly spent, though it can be self-deprecating: Sorry I'm late, I was futzing around at home.
Sometimes shortened to futzing.
- pokingLight repeated jabbing
- fiddlingAimless, restless manipulation
- dawdlingLeisurely time-wasting
- noodlingCasual musical improvisation
- delayingCausing later occurrence
puttering · loafing · tinkering · dabbling · improvising · postponing · dilly-dallying · tweaking · faffing · adjusting · frittering · wasting time · stalling · dragging feet · avoiding · deferring · meandering · hesitating
futzing aroundconcentrating
Directing mental effort narrowly
buckling down · getting down to business · applying oneself · knuckling down · following through
futzing aroundgetting serious
Transitioning to commitment
meaning business · cracking down · going all in · intense focus
futzing aroundtoiling
Working strenuously, exhaustingly
laboring · grinding · hustling · putting in the work · bearing down