Word of the day
To waste time on small fiddly things instead of the job
phrasal verb
The English word
faff around
English never changes here, whatever language you are reading in.
When to use it
British, informal, and spoken far more than written - friends, family, and colleagues you know well. Never send it to a client. The tone is impatient but affectionate: it teases someone for fussing over small, fiddly details instead of getting on with the job, and it is not an insult. Two different particles can follow the verb with no change of meaning, and both are shown in the examples. Many American listeners will not recognise it at all, so keep it for British company. A noun form of the same word also exists, used with an article, for a task that turns out to be far more trouble than it is worth.
Examples
Goes with
Check yourself
Complete the sentence with the English word above.
Show the answer
faffing