Time is a precious resource, yet we all have moments when we find ourselves idly passing it. Whether intentionally or unintentionally, wasting time is a universal experience. People use idioms to describe these situations in an engaging and colorful way.
This article explores 67+ idioms for wasting time, categorized based on their tone and usage. From professional expressions to informal and humorous phrases, you’ll learn various ways to describe procrastination, distractions, and inefficient activities. Additionally, we provide 11 texting examples to help you use these idioms effectively in daily conversations.
Table of Contents
- Formal Idioms for Wasting Time
- Casual Idioms for Wasting Time
- Humorous & Sarcastic Idioms for Wasting Time
- Texting Examples Using These Idioms
- How to Choose the Right Idiom
- Conclusion
- Meta Description
Formal Idioms for Wasting Time
In professional or polite settings, it’s essential to describe inefficiency diplomatically. Here are some refined idioms suitable for workplaces, meetings, and academic discussions.
1. Beat Around the Bush
- Meaning: Avoiding the main point and talking about unnecessary details.
- Example: Instead of beating around the bush, let’s address the issue directly.
2. Go Around in Circles
- Meaning: Discussing or doing the same thing repeatedly without progress.
- Example: The team kept going around in circles during the meeting without reaching a decision.
3. Spin One’s Wheels
- Meaning: Making an effort without any real progress.
- Example: We’ve been spinning our wheels on this project for weeks without a clear solution.
4. Drag One’s Feet
- Meaning: Deliberately delaying something.
- Example: The committee is dragging its feet on making a final decision.
5. Dilly-Dally
- Meaning: Wasting time by being slow or indecisive.
- Example: If we keep dilly-dallying, we’ll miss the deadline.
6. Fiddle Around
- Meaning: Engaging in unproductive activities.
- Example: Instead of fiddling around with minor details, let’s focus on the bigger picture.
7. Kill Time
- Meaning: Engaging in an activity just to pass time.
- Example: I read a book to kill time while waiting for my appointment.
8. Mark Time
- Meaning: To do something unimportant while waiting for something significant.
- Example: The employees were just marking time until the new manager arrived.
9. Pass the Time
- Meaning: Engaging in light activities while waiting.
- Example: We played cards to pass the time during the delay.
10. Tread Water
- Meaning: Making no real progress despite efforts.
- Example: Without additional funding, the project is just treading water.
Casual Idioms for Wasting Time
These idioms are commonly used in everyday conversations among friends, family, and colleagues in relaxed settings.
11. Shoot the Breeze
- Meaning: Chatting casually without a particular purpose.
- Example: We spent the evening shooting the breeze instead of working.
12. Monkey Around
- Meaning: Playing or goofing off instead of being productive.
- Example: Stop monkeying around and start working on your assignment!
13. Piddle Around
- Meaning: Engaging in trivial activities instead of focusing on something important.
- Example: He spent the entire morning piddling around instead of cleaning.
14. Laze Around
- Meaning: Being idle and doing nothing.
- Example: I lazed around all weekend instead of getting chores done.
15. Potch Around
- Meaning: To work aimlessly without achieving much.
- Example: She potched around the kitchen without really cooking anything.
16. Kick the Can Down the Road
- Meaning: Postponing a decision or task.
- Example: We can’t keep kicking the can down the road; we must make a decision today.
Humorous & Sarcastic Idioms for Wasting Time
These expressions add a playful or sarcastic twist to the idea of wasting time.
17. Have Too Much Time on One’s Hands
- Meaning: Having excessive free time and using it unproductively.
- Example: He must have too much time on his hands if he’s organizing his sock drawer by color.
18. Chase One’s Tail
- Meaning: Wasting time by being busy with unimportant tasks.
- Example: You’re just chasing your tail with all that unnecessary paperwork.
19. Fart Around
- Meaning: Wasting time in a silly or lazy way.
- Example: We spent the entire afternoon farting around instead of studying.
Texting Examples Using These Idioms
Here are 11 examples of how to incorporate these idioms into text messages:
- Friend: Are you done with your work?
You: Not really, I’ve been monkeying around all afternoon! - Boss: Why isn’t the report ready?
You: I think we’ve been going around in circles with the edits. - Coworker: How was the meeting?
You: A total waste—we just spun our wheels for an hour! - Friend: What did you do today?
You: Just lazed around and watched TV. - Sibling: Are you coming downstairs?
You: Give me 5 minutes, I’m still fiddling around with my phone. - Teammate: Are we making progress?
You: Nope, we’re just chasing our tails at this point. - Parent: Did you finish your assignment?
You: Not yet, I’ve been dilly-dallying too much! - Colleague: Should we finalize the project today?
You: Let’s not kick the can down the road any longer! - Friend: What’s your boss like?
You: He hates when people beat around the bush. - Partner: What are you up to?
You: Just killing time until my next meeting. - Roommate: Did you clean the apartment?
You: Nah, I just potched around instead of getting anything done.
How to Choose the Right Idiom
- Use formal idioms in workplaces or professional settings.
- Opt for casual expressions in friendly conversations.
- Choose humorous or sarcastic idioms when joking around.
Conclusion
Wasting time is a part of life, but describing it doesn’t have to be dull! These 67+ idioms provide fun and engaging ways to talk about unproductive moments in various contexts.