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to frig around

to frig around

9.9
To waste time instead of doing something useful
  • phrasal verb
  • Slang
translation icon : perder el tiempo
  • He tends to frig around instead of getting his assignments done.

Examples

  • Stop frigging around and help me clean the garage.

  • They spent the afternoon just frigging around in the park.

  • Don't frig around!

  • He always frigs around instead of studying.

  • He tends to frig around instead of getting his assignments done.

  • Stop frigging around and help me clean the garage.

  • They spent the afternoon just frigging around in the park.

Synonyms

to waste time
vsto frig around
728 1.6

To spend time doing things that are not useful instead of doing something more useful

is used particularly for choosing laziness over useful work
to sit around
vsto frig around
  • Informal
350 1.1

To spend time sitting and doing very little without a clear purpose

focuses on avoiding productive tasks rather than merely being seated
to mess around
vsto frig around
  • Informal
111 4.1

To spend time doing playful or unplanned activities

means avoiding useful work rather than doing planned tasks
to fuck around
vsto frig around
  • Offensive
75 9.9

To waste time or act carelessly

is a milder term for wasting time without severe irresponsibility
to lie around
vsto frig around
  • Informal
43 3.7

To spend time doing nothing useful

is choosing laziness instead of doing needed or useful work
to slack
vsto frig around
  • Informal
26 6.3

To avoid work or duties and be lazy

is broader laziness rather than specific shirking of duties
to mope around
vsto frig around
  • Informal
20 5.8

Move slowly around a place because you feel sad or bored

is about avoiding productive work even when feeling unhappy or bored
to loaf
vsto frig around
7 6.2

To spend time doing little or nothing instead of working

focuses on avoiding productive work rather than activity
to loll
vsto frig around
5 7.0

To sit or lie in a lazy, relaxed way

means avoiding productive tasks rather than simply resting lazily
to lounge around
vsto frig around
  • Informal
5 3.8

To relax and do very little

implies avoiding useful work rather than just comfortable rest
to fritter away
vsto frig around
4 6.0

Waste time or money on small unimportant things

is used for general laziness instead of gradual careless loss
to fritter
vsto frig around
4 6.8

To waste small amounts of time, money, or energy little by little

focuses on time wasting through small gradual losses rather than plain laziness
to bum around
vsto frig around
  • Informal
3 7.9

Spend time doing very little or nothing

avoids productive tasks rather than only being idle
to muck around
vsto frig around
  • UK
3 8.4

To spend time doing not important things in a relaxed way

is about avoiding productive duties instead of doing them
to slug
vsto frig around
  • Informal
2 7.7

To spend time doing nothing useful

suggests deliberate avoidance of work rather than temporary rest
to bum about
vsto frig around
  • UK
2 8.6

To spend time doing very little and moving around without plans

chooses inactivity in place of productive tasks
to lollygag
vsto frig around
  • Informal
2 9.5

To waste time instead of doing the work you need

means avoiding productive tasks rather than simply walking slowly
to spin your wheels
vsto frig around
  • Informal
2 7.9

To waste time and effort without making progress

is about not working at all rather than trying but failing to progress
to muck about
vsto frig around
  • UK
1 8.7

To spend time doing things that are not important

avoids productive work rather than completing tasks
to futz around
vsto frig around
  • Informal
1 9.2

To spend time doing small unimportant things instead of working

avoids productive tasks rather than completing important work
to futz
vsto frig around
  • Slang
1 9.6

To waste time doing small unimportant tasks

covers general laziness rather than small fiddling tasks
to piddle
vsto frig around
  • Informal
1 8.7

To waste time doing small unimportant things

refers to avoiding productive tasks rather than small unimportant busyness
to bum
vsto frig around
  • Informal
1 7.7

To spend time doing nothing and not working

avoids productive tasks instead of taking responsibility
to loll around
vsto frig around
  • Informal
1 4.4

To spend time doing very little and relaxing

focuses on avoiding productive effort rather than mere relaxation
to lounge about
vsto frig around
  • UK
1 3.4

To spend time lazily doing little or nothing

is about avoiding productive tasks rather than mere leisure
to faff
vsto frig around
  • UK
1 9.9

To spend time on small, unimportant tasks instead of getting things done

is about choosing laziness rather than mere fiddly preparation or delay
to loaf about
vsto frig around
  • UK
1 6.5

To spend time doing nothing in a lazy way

avoids productive tasks rather than engaging in work
to arse around
vsto frig around
  • Offensive
1 9.9

To waste time doing silly or lazy things instead of useful work

is a neutral term for idleness rather than silly behaviour
to arse about
vsto frig around
  • Offensive
1 9.9

To waste time instead of doing something useful

is a general lazy avoidance rather than specifically silly conduct
to piss around
vsto frig around
  • Offensive
1 9.9

To waste time doing unimportant or silly things instead of doing something important

is about avoiding productive tasks without being deliberately unserious
to wank around
vsto frig around
  • Offensive
1 9.9

To waste time instead of doing something useful

is a neutral expression for wasting time without vulgar tone
to potter around
vsto frig around
  • UK
1 6.5

To move around slowly doing small jobs in no hurry

is about avoiding productive work rather than quiet useful tinkering
to waste one's time
vsto frig around
3.3

To spend time on things that are not useful

is about being lazy instead of doing necessary or useful tasks
to pull your pud
vsto frig around
  • Offensive
9.9

To waste time instead of working

is a neutral phrase for avoiding productive tasks without slang tone
to burn time
vsto frig around
  • Informal
7.5

To pass time by doing something not useful while you wait

refers to deliberate avoidance of productive work rather than only passing time
to piddling around
vsto frig around
  • Informal
8.6

To spend time doing small unimportant things with no real plan

is used for general laziness rather than focusing on trivial small tasks
to piddle away
vsto frig around
  • Informal
8.6

Spend time or money on unimportant things

is mainly about avoiding productive work rather than wasting physical resources
to footle away
vsto frig around
  • UK
9.6

To waste time doing small, unimportant things

means avoid productive tasks rather than intentionally misusing resources
to faddle
vsto frig around
9.9

To waste time on small unimportant things

is general laziness rather than focused fussing over small details

How Productive

work
1.0
to frig around
  • Slang
9.9
to dawdle
17 5.0
to loaf
7 6.2

Surface Forms

frig around infinitive
frigged around past participle
frigging around present participle
frigs around third person singular

Morphology

frig + around

The particle 'around' regularly combines with verbs to mean 'move about aimlessly / waste time', so if a learner knew 'frig' as a verb meaning 'mess/fool about' they could compose the meaning. However 'frig' is nonstandard/obscure (often a euphemistic or dialectal form) and not clearly defined for B1 learners, so the expression is only partially predictable rather than fully transparent.

Etymology

Frig around may come from frig as a mild swear for small, useless actions and around meaning moving without purpose. Picture someone messing about instead of getting work done, so the phrase means 'to waste time' or 'be lazy'.