monkey around
Waste time playfully
To monkey around is to behave playfully or aimlessly, often in a way that's unproductive or mildly disruptive: Stop monkeying around and get your homework done.
It can also mean to tinker or fiddle with something casually: He's been monkeying around with the car engine all afternoon.
The phrase suggests activity without serious purpose.
Playful, spirited activity
- frolicLighthearted playful movement
- cavortPlay with lively movement
- friskSearch by touch
- horseplayBoisterous rough behavior
roughhouse · clowning · gambol · tumble · wrestle · chase · tickle · goof off
Playful trick on someone
- trickDeliberate deception
- trickeryDeliberate deception or fraud
- anticsAbsurd, attention-seeking behavior
- hijinksBoisterous playful mischief
shenanigans · tomfoolery · troublemaking · naughtiness · impishness · roguery · rascality · devilry
Baked bread shape
- lazePass time idly
- loungeComfortable waiting room
- dawdleLinger without purpose
- loiterRemain idly in place
waste time · kill time · goof off · slack off · procrastinate · dilly-dally · lollygag · piddle
romp
Playful, spirited activity
horseplay · roughhouse · clowning · gambol · tumble · wrestle · chase · tickle · goof off · play fight
prank
Playful trick on someone
- trickDeliberate deception
- trickeryDeliberate deception or fraud
- anticsAbsurd, attention-seeking behavior
hijinks · shenanigans · tomfoolery · troublemaking · naughtiness · impishness · roguery · rascality · devilry · japery
loaf
Baked bread shape
loiter · waste time · kill time · goof off · slack off · procrastinate · dilly-dally · lollygag · piddle · putter
fiddle
Adjust restlessly; folk violin
toy with · play with · mess with · tinker with · dabble · experiment · adjust · tweak · handle · manipulate
monkey aroundbuckle down
Apply oneself determinedly
get down to business · get serious · focus · knuckle down · apply oneself
monkey aroundconcentrate
Reduced, potent form
focus · pay attention · zero in · apply oneself · home in
around, monkey, monkeys, monkeying, monkey business, monkeyed, monkeyish