lollygagging

Idling without purpose

Lollygagging is wasting time, dawdling, or engaging in aimless activity when you should be doing something productive.

The word carries a tone of mild disapproval: Quit lollygagging and get to work.

It sounds folksy and old-fashioned, more likely from a frustrated parent or coach than a formal setting.

idleness

loafing

Passing time idly

loungingReclining in idleness
lazingResting without aim
goofing offIdling instead of working

slacking · killing time · wasting time · frittering · bumming around · doing nothing · twiddling thumbs · vegetating · malingering · goldbricking

dawdling

dillydally

Waste time through indecision

moseyWalk in no rush
ambleRelaxed, slow gait
saunterRelaxed, aimless stride

dally · meander · poke along · shuffle · stroll · tarry · linger · loiter · lag · plod

procrastinating

stalling

Intentional delay tactics

delayingCausing later occurrence
putting offChoosing to delay
ditheringProlonged indecisive hesitation

shilly-shallying · hemming and hawing · foot-dragging · temporizing · dragging feet · avoiding · postponing · hesitating · vacillating · time-wasting

Categories

dawdlingdawdling, dallying, dilly-dallying, lingering, loitering
foolishnessfoolishness, silliness, foolish, stupid, folly
stallingstall, stalling, delay, hesitate, procrastinate
wanderingwandering, wander, wanderer, roaming, roam
Whimsy Wordsgobbledygook, gibberish, mumbo jumbo, hogwash, balderdash

Opposites

pace and urgency

lollygagginghustling

Hurrying or swindling

rushing · hurrying · speeding · racing · scurrying

productivity and effort

lollygaggingbuckling down

Applying oneself with determination

toiling · laboring · applying oneself · knuckling down · getting down to business

Family

loll, lollygag, lollygagger, lollygagged

Familiarity: Top 200,000
Profile: Timeless · Everyday, not technical · Rated G