waiting around
Idling without purpose
Waiting around is idling in place with no particular activity, usually while expecting something to happen or someone to arrive.
It emphasizes unproductive time: I spent the whole afternoon waiting around for the plumber.
The phrase often carries a note of impatience or frustration at time being wasted.
- standing byReady to act
- on holdTemporarily not proceeding
- lingeringRemaining beyond expected duration
- dawdleLinger without purpose
- loungeComfortable waiting room
impatient · queueing · holding pattern · bide · twiddling thumbs · pacing · clock-watching · tarry · cooling heels · marking time · languishing · whiling away · killing time · wasting time · dally · liminal · idling · watch
waiting aroundtaking action
Initiating purposeful effort
getting busy · hustling · working · getting things done · toiling
waiting aroundgetting things done
Accomplishing tasks effectively
taking initiative · accomplishing · making progress · achieving · executing
waiting aroundmoving forward
Continuing toward a goal
pressing on · forging ahead · advancing · pushing ahead · proceeding
wait, around, surround, waiting, waiter, roundabout, waitress, await, awaiting