messed around
Fooled around aimlessly
Messed around means to spend time idly or without serious purpose: We just messed around all weekend.
It can also mean to tinker or experiment casually: I've been messing around with watercolors.
To mess around with someone often implies a casual sexual relationship or flirtation.
Don't mess around warns against careless behavior or foolishness.
- dilly-dalliedPostponed through aimless delay
- dawdledMoved slowly, idly
- mucked aboutIdled without purpose
- tinkeredAdjusted without expertise
- lollygaggedSpent time aimlessly
faffed · faffed about · loafed · goofed off · lingered · dallied · noodled · piddled · pottered · dabbled · idled · fiddled with · tried out · slacked off · procrastinated · delayed · flirted · played the field
seriousness of effort
messed aroundworked hard
focused · buckled down · concentrated · applied oneself · knuckled down
mess, around, message, messy, messenger, messed, messes, messiness, messing