to footle
- verb
- /ˈfutəl/
- UK
:
hacer el tonto
- Don't footle around; we need to get to work!
Examples
-
He tends to footle when he's nervous, talking about nothing in particular.
-
Stop footling around and help me with this task.
-
They spent the afternoon footling about in the park instead of working.
-
The children were footling in the garden all afternoon.
-
She always footles when she's bored, making silly jokes instead of paying attention.
-
The team footled instead of focusing on their project, wasting valuable time.
-
He was just footling around without a care in the world, enjoying the sunny day.
Synonyms
88
2.1
Act in a foolish or playful way without taking things seriously
9
8.4
To talk on and on in a silly way about unimportant things
1
9.9
Act in a foolish, annoying way instead of being serious
To waste time doing small, unimportant things
To talk or act in a silly, unimportant way
To waste time by doing silly, unimportant things
To behave in a silly, awkward way that looks foolish
Phrasal Verbs
How Silly
Surface Forms
Etymology
Footle is an old informal word with an uncertain origin, but a helpful way to remember it is to think of it as sounding like fool or like taking small useless steps with your foot. That's why to footle means to act or talk in a silly way and waste time.