In our fast-paced world, it’s easy to get caught up in tasks that seem important but are, in reality, a waste of time. Whether you’re procrastinating or just letting the minutes slip away, many of us have experienced the frustration of losing time without realizing it. Idioms for wasting time are a fun and engaging way to express those moments when we feel like we’re doing nothing productive.
In this article, we’ll explore 30 unique idioms that convey the concept of wasting time, and offer a warm, conversational guide to help you incorporate them into your own vocabulary. Let’s dive into these expressions and discover how to use them effectively.
1. Bite the bullet
Meaning: To do something unpleasant or difficult that you’ve been avoiding.
Sentence: “I’ve been putting off writing this report, but I guess I’ll have to bite the bullet and get it done.”
Best Use: When you have to do something you’ve been avoiding for a while.
Not Use: Avoid using this when the task is not unpleasant but merely trivial.
Other ways to say: “Face the music,” “Take the plunge.”
2. Go around in circles
Meaning: To engage in a repetitive activity without making any progress.
Sentence: “We were discussing the same issues for hours; it felt like we were just going around in circles.”
Best Use: When discussions or activities seem to be getting nowhere.
Not Use: When there’s clear progress being made.
Other ways to say: “Spin your wheels,” “Chase your tail.”
3. Twiddle your thumbs
Meaning: To do nothing and waste time, often out of boredom.
Sentence: “While waiting for the meeting to start, I just sat there twiddling my thumbs.”
Best Use: When you’re idle and not contributing to the situation.
Not Use: When you are genuinely waiting for something productive.
Other ways to say: “Waste time,” “Idle away.”
4. Killing time
Meaning: To pass time in a way that is not productive.
Sentence: “I was just killing time before my friend arrived.”
Best Use: When you’re engaged in non-essential activities to fill up time.
Not Use: When you are working on something important, even if it feels slow.
Other ways to say: “Fill the time,” “Pass the time.”
5. Drag your feet
Meaning: To delay doing something intentionally or waste time in completing a task.
Sentence: “She’s been dragging her feet about finishing the project.”
Best Use: When someone is procrastinating or intentionally delaying a task.
Not Use: When someone is struggling with the task but still making progress.
Other ways to say: “Procrastinate,” “Put off.”
6. Sit on your hands
Meaning: To avoid taking action or doing anything, especially when you should.
Sentence: “I sat on my hands during the meeting instead of speaking up about my ideas.”
Best Use: When you deliberately avoid acting or taking responsibility.
Not Use: When you’re actually waiting for the right moment to act.
Other ways to say: “Stand still,” “Do nothing.”
7. Burn daylight
Meaning: To waste time, especially when you could be making better use of it.
Sentence: “We shouldn’t burn daylight; let’s get to work.”
Best Use: When you’re realizing that time is slipping away without making progress.
Not Use: When you’re taking a break or resting.
Other ways to say: “Waste time,” “Let time slip by.”
8. On the back burner
Meaning: To put something aside temporarily, often because it’s not urgent.
Sentence: “We’ll have to put that idea on the back burner for now.”
Best Use: When delaying a task in favor of more pressing matters.
Not Use: When you’ve completely forgotten about the task.
Other ways to say: “Set aside,” “Delay.”
9. Go through the motions
Meaning: To do something with little enthusiasm or effort, often resulting in time wasted.
Sentence: “He just went through the motions during the presentation.”
Best Use: When you’re doing something half-heartedly or without focus.
Not Use: When you’re engaged in an activity, even if it’s routine.
Other ways to say: “Phoning it in,” “Half-hearted.”
10. Fritter away
Meaning: To waste something, especially time or money, in small amounts.
Sentence: “I tend to fritter away my weekends doing nothing important.”
Best Use: When you spend time or resources on trivial or unimportant things.
Not Use: When you’re spending time on something meaningful.
Other ways to say: “Waste away,” “Squander.”
11. Mickey Mouse around
Meaning: To engage in silly or trivial activities instead of something important.
Sentence: “Stop Mickey Mouseing around and get serious about your work!”
Best Use: When someone is being unnecessarily playful or irresponsible.
Not Use: When someone is casually enjoying themselves but still getting things done.
Other ways to say: “Mess around,” “Play around.”
12. Idle away
Meaning: To spend time in a relaxed or unproductive way.
Sentence: “I spent the afternoon idling away at the beach.”
Best Use: When you’re intentionally relaxing or not working.
Not Use: When you’re taking breaks as part of a productive schedule.
Other ways to say: “Laze around,” “Waste time.”
13. Put something off
Meaning: To delay doing something.
Sentence: “I keep putting off my dentist appointment.”
Best Use: When you avoid doing something important but not urgent.
Not Use: When you genuinely don’t have the time or energy for the task.
Other ways to say: “Delay,” “Postpone.”
14. Waste your breath
Meaning: To speak without making an impact, often on a topic that isn’t worth discussing.
Sentence: “Stop wasting your breath arguing with him, he won’t listen.”
Best Use: When engaging in a fruitless or futile conversation.
Not Use: When the conversation is constructive or meaningful.
Other ways to say: “Talk in vain,” “Mouth off.”
15. Spin your wheels
Meaning: To exert effort but make no progress.
Sentence: “We were just spinning our wheels trying to find the right solution.”
Best Use: When you feel like you’re not getting anywhere despite your efforts.
Not Use: When progress is slow but still happening.
Other ways to say: “Tread water,” “Go nowhere.”
16. Tread water
Meaning: To remain in the same position without making any progress.
Sentence: “I’ve been treading water at work, just waiting for things to change.”
Best Use: When you’re stuck in a situation with no forward movement.
Not Use: When you’re content with maintaining the status quo.
Other ways to say: “Spin your wheels,” “Go in circles.”
17. Run around in circles
Meaning: To be busy doing nothing productive.
Sentence: “I was running around in circles trying to prepare for the event.”
Best Use: When you feel overwhelmed but unproductive.
Not Use: When you’re actually making progress, even if it feels chaotic.
Other ways to say: “Chase your tail,” “Go nowhere.”
18. Stall for time
Meaning: To delay in order to gain more time.
Sentence: “She tried to stall for time during the meeting to gather more information.”
Best Use: When you intentionally delay to buy more time.
Not Use: When you’re genuinely unsure and need more time to make decisions.
Other ways to say: “Buy time,” “Procrastinate.”
19. Waste away
Meaning: To diminish or waste time, often in an unhealthy or self-destructive way.
Sentence: “He spent the whole summer wasting away on his couch.”
Best Use: When you feel like time is slipping away without making meaningful use of it.
Not Use: When you’re taking a necessary break.
Other ways to say: “Fritter away,” “Squander.”
20. Sit around
Meaning: To do nothing or waste time by being idle.
Sentence: “I don’t want to sit around all day doing nothing.”
Best Use: When you’re looking for a way to express boredom or inactivity.
Not Use: When you are taking a break or resting purposefully.
Other ways to say: “Lounge around,” “Idle away.”
21. Waste time on
Meaning: To use time in an unproductive or inefficient manner.
Sentence: “Don’t waste time on those petty issues; focus on what matters.”
Best Use: When you realize you’re focusing on trivial matters instead of important ones.
Not Use: When you’re genuinely invested in something, even if it’s small.
Other ways to say: “Squander,” “Misuse time.”
22. Loaf around
Meaning: To be lazy or idle without doing anything productive.
Sentence: “I spent the weekend just loafing around the house.”
Best Use: When you’re taking a break or being unproductive for a while.
Not Use: When you’re engaging in leisure activities with purpose.
Other ways to say: “Laze around,” “Waste time.”
23. Procrastinate
Meaning: To delay doing something intentionally.
Sentence: “Stop procrastinating and get started on that project.”
Best Use: When you keep putting off tasks.
Not Use: When you’re waiting for the right time to act.
Other ways to say: “Put off,” “Delay.”
24. Bum around
Meaning: To do nothing or spend time doing unimportant things.
Sentence: “I spent the day bumming around with friends.”
Best Use: When you’re not engaging in productive activities.
Not Use: When you’re participating in leisurely activities with purpose.
Other ways to say: “Laze around,” “Idle away.”
25. Mess around
Meaning: To engage in activities that are unimportant or time-wasting.
Sentence: “Stop messing around and focus on your homework.”
Best Use: When someone is being playful instead of serious.
Not Use: When the activity is actually fun or necessary.
Other ways to say: “Play around,” “Fool around.”
26. Take your time
Meaning: To spend more time than necessary, often due to laziness or lack of urgency.
Sentence: “You’re taking your time with that project, aren’t you?”
Best Use: When you’re frustrated by someone’s slow progress.
Not Use: When there’s no need for urgency.
Other ways to say: “Drag your feet,” “Delay.”
27. Wallow in
Meaning: To indulge in something without moving forward or improving.
Sentence: “He likes to wallow in his own self-pity instead of taking action.”
Best Use: When someone is stuck in negativity or self-doubt.
Not Use: When someone is working through a difficult time but making progress.
Other ways to say: “Dwell on,” “Indulge in.”
28. Waste away at
Meaning: To spend time in a manner that is unproductive and leads nowhere.
Sentence: “I don’t want to waste away at this job forever.”
Best Use: When you’re stuck in a situation without progress.
Not Use: When you’re in a position with potential to grow.
Other ways to say: “Squander,” “Idle away.”
29. Kill time with
Meaning: To engage in activities that fill time without meaning or purpose.
Sentence: “I just killed time with some casual reading while waiting for my appointment.”
Best Use: When you’re filling time without any intention of doing something important.
Not Use: When the activity has a specific purpose.
Other ways to say: “Pass time,” “Waste time.”
30. Let the grass grow under your feet
Meaning: To procrastinate or waste time.
Sentence: “Don’t just let the grass grow under your feet; take action now!”
Best Use: When urging someone to act rather than waste time.
Not Use: When taking a thoughtful pause before making a decision.
Other ways to say: “Procrastinate,” “Put off.”
FAQs
- What does it mean to “waste time”?
- It means engaging in activities that don’t produce any significant results or contribute to your goals.
- It means engaging in activities that don’t produce any significant results or contribute to your goals.
- Why do people procrastinate and waste time?
- Often, it’s due to fear of failure, lack of motivation, or overwhelming feelings that make tasks seem daunting.
- Often, it’s due to fear of failure, lack of motivation, or overwhelming feelings that make tasks seem daunting.
- How can I stop wasting time?
- By setting clear goals, using time management techniques, and staying focused on important tasks.
- By setting clear goals, using time management techniques, and staying focused on important tasks.
- Is it okay to waste time sometimes?
- Yes, taking breaks and having downtime is essential for mental health and productivity, as long as it doesn’t interfere with your responsibilities.
- Yes, taking breaks and having downtime is essential for mental health and productivity, as long as it doesn’t interfere with your responsibilities.
- How do idioms help us express wasting time?
- Idioms provide colorful, relatable ways to talk about time-wasting moments, making them easier to understand and share.
- Idioms provide colorful, relatable ways to talk about time-wasting moments, making them easier to understand and share.
Conclusion
Wasting time happens to the best of us, and it’s important to recognize those moments when we could be using our time more wisely. By understanding and using these 30 idioms for wasting time, you can express yourself with empathy, care, and creativity.
Sometimes, it’s not about the time spent, but how we talk about it. Whether you’re casually wasting time or feeling frustrated by a lack of progress, these idioms can add depth to your conversations.
