piddling away
Frittering time carelessly
Piddling away is wasting time or resources on trivial matters, frittering something valuable through inattention or lack of purpose.
The phrase combines piddle (to occupy oneself with trifles) with away (indicating gradual loss): He piddled away the afternoon watching videos, She piddled away her inheritance on small indulgences.
The sense is of dissipation through insignificant activity rather than dramatic squandering.
- squanderingReckless depletion of resources
- dissipatingScattering and fading out
- burning daylightSquandering available hours
- lollygaggingAimless time-wasting
- procrastinationHabitual task avoidance
dawdling · misusing · loafing · goofing off · puttering · messing around · frittering · running out the clock · meandering · spinning wheels · malingering · neglecting · dilly-dallying · twiddling thumbs · underutilizing · wasting time · aimlessness · misallocating
piddling awaymaximizing
Increasing to fullest extent
buckling down · knuckling down · getting down to business · applying oneself · focusing
piddling awaystriving
Earnest sustained endeavor
toiling · bearing down · laboring · buckling down · going all out
piddling awaysaving
Reserving for future use
conserving · preserving · hoarding · accumulating · safeguarding