muck around
Fiddle without purpose
Muck around means to waste time or behave aimlessly without accomplishing much: Stop mucking around and get to work.
It can also mean to tinker or fiddle with something casually: He spent the afternoon mucking around with his old motorcycle.
Primarily British; Americans more often say mess around or goof off.
- putterClub for short strokes
- faff aboutIdle ineffectually
- dawdleLinger without purpose
- fiddleAdjust restlessly; folk violin
- tinkerMender of metal household wares
clowning · act the fool · play the fool · goof off · tomfoolery · horseplay · shenanigans · play · skylark · dilly-dally · idle away · fritter · frolic · monkey · dally · loiter · aimless · piddle
seriousness and purposefulness
muck aroundbuckle down
Apply oneself determinedly
get down to business · knuckle down · apply oneself · focus · concentrate
efficiency and productivity
muck aroundget things done
accomplish · achieve · produce · make progress · perform