monkeyed around
Fooled around aimlessly
Monkeyed around is past tense of monkey around—to behave playfully, waste time, or tinker aimlessly with something.
We monkeyed around in the garage all afternoon.
He monkeyed around with the settings until the TV stopped working entirely.
The phrase suggests activity without serious purpose or skill.
- frolickedPlayed in lively way
- rompedPlayed with wild energy
- cavortedMoved playfully, energetically
- meddledInterfered without invitation
- tamperedIllegally altered or meddled
pranked · gambolled · dabbled · toyed · jested · experimented · fiddled · danced · teased · skipped · giggled · tinkered · poked · prodded · idled · dawdled · killed time · wasted time
monkeyed aroundbuckled down
Began working earnestly
got down to business · worked hard · knuckled down · applied oneself · labored
monkeyed aroundconcentrated
Gathered or intensified
focused · paid attention · zeroed in · honed in · kept one's eye on the ball