monkeying about
Fooling around aimlessly
Monkeying about (also monkeying around) is engaging in aimless, playful, or mischievous activity—fooling around rather than doing anything productive.
The phrase suggests lighthearted troublemaking or time-wasting: Stop monkeying about and finish your homework.
It can also mean tampering with something you shouldn't: Someone's been monkeying about with the settings.
- prankingPlaying harmless tricks
- fiddlingAimless, restless manipulation
- frolickingLighthearted energetic movement
- horsing aroundEngaging in boisterous play
- loafingPassing time idly
dabbling · skylarking · tweaking · meddling · improvising · horseplay · tomfoolery · dilly-dallying · jesting · simian · teasing · clowning · cavorting · acting up · jury-rigging · puttering · dawdling · wasting time
monkeying aboutbuckling down
Applying oneself with determination
getting down to business · knuckling down · applying oneself · concentrating · focusing