potters about
Tinkers without purpose
To potter about (or potter around) is to occupy oneself in an unhurried, aimless way—doing small tasks without urgency or clear purpose: He spent Saturday pottering about in the garden.
The phrase suggests pleasant idleness rather than laziness, puttering from one minor activity to another.
More common in British than American English, where *putter about* is the usual form.
- putter aroundOccupy oneself idly
- ambleRelaxed, slow gait
- tinkerMender of metal household wares
- fiddle withAdjust idly or nervously
- dilly-dallyWaste time idly
piddle · dawdle · kill time · while away · waste time · idle · bumble · relaxed · poke · fuss · tootle · stroll · procrastinate · carefree · mosey · meander · dabble · contented
potters aboutget down to business
Begin focused work
buckle down · toil · labor · apply oneself · knuckle down
potters aboutconcentrate
Reduced, potent form
apply oneself · get down to brass tacks · zero in · bear down