messes around
Goofs off aimlessly
Messes around means to spend time idly or without serious purpose: Stop messing around and get to work.
It can also mean to tinker or experiment casually: He's been messing around with old radios.
To mess around with someone often implies a casual sexual relationship or flirtation: She found out he'd been messing around with his coworker.
- dabbleEngage superficially
- tinkerMender of metal household wares
- fiddleAdjust restlessly; folk violin
- tossLight, casual throw
- tamperInterfere harmfully
poke · improvise · meddle · prank · dawdle · waste time · misbehave · goof off · try · play · tease · delay · loaf · banter · amuse · idle · killing time · fumble
messes aroundgets down to business
Begins focused, purposeful work
buckles down · focuses · knuckles down · applies oneself · means business
messes aroundconcentrates
Directs sustained attention
focuses · pays attention · locks in · attends to · applies oneself
mess, messes, messed, messing, messy, messier, messiest, messily, messiness