putter about
Do unhurried tasks
To putter about is to occupy oneself with small, unhurried tasks—tidying, gardening, fixing minor things—without any pressing purpose.
The activity suggests pleasant aimlessness rather than productivity: He spent Saturday morning puttering about in the garage.
British English prefers "potter about." Also putter around.
- fool aroundAct without purpose
- loiterRemain idly in place
- piddleDally or urinate
- bum aroundPass time idly
- dilly-dallyWaste time idly
waste time · while away · tinker · dabble · idle · laze around · fritter · dawdle · potter around · tidy · absent-minded · dreamy · mend · fiddle around · monkey around · drift · roam · stroll
intensity of activity
putter aboutwork hard
Expend serious effort
labor · toil · hustle · buckle down · apply oneself
focus and goal-orientation
putter aboutfocus
Concentrated attention point
concentrate · buckle down · get down to business · apply oneself · zero in