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candle-wasting

candle-wasting

9.7
To use time or money in a way that gives no useful result
  • adjective
translation icon : desperdicio de tiempo
  • They described the meeting as a candle-wasting exercise with no clear outcomes.

Examples

  • She realized her candle-wasting lifestyle was holding her back.

  • His candle-wasting habits have led to many missed opportunities.

  • He regretted his candle-wasting evenings spent idly by the fire.

  • Her candle-wasting behavior eventually led to missed opportunities.

  • She realized her candle-wasting lifestyle was holding her back.

  • His candle-wasting habits have led to many missed opportunities.

  • Her candle-wasting behavior eventually led to missed opportunities.

Synonyms

waste
vscandle-wasting
469 1.2

Careless use of money, time, or other resources

is specifically about spending time or resources in vain
waste of time
vscandle-wasting
126 2.7

An activity that takes time but does not help you

is broader, covering resources as well as unproductive time
extravagance
vscandle-wasting
7 6.8

Spending a lot of money in a wasteful way

is less about luxury and more about unproductive habit
total waste of time
vscandle-wasting
4 3.9

An activity that uses your time but does not help you

is wider, also applying to resource loss beyond pure time waste
profligacy
vscandle-wasting
  • Formal
3 9.8

A very wasteful use of money or things that shows little care about cost

is milder, focusing on everyday wasteful habits
wastefulness
vscandle-wasting
1 4.6

Using money or things carelessly in a way that causes extra loss

is the habit of spending time or resources unproductively
squandering
vscandle-wasting
1 7.2

Using valuable things like time or money in a wasteful way

is about wasting by habit or vain actions rather than lavish spending
dissipation
vscandle-wasting
1 7.7

Careless use of resources like time or money

is more general about habits that waste resources over time
thriftlessness
vscandle-wasting
9.9

A habit of spending money and not saving for the future

is broader, covering time and resource loss, not only money

Antonyms

342 3.4

Getting good results while using little time, effort, or money

productivity
  • Specialized
211 4.0

How much work, goods, or services are produced for the time and effort used

How Wasteful

profligacy
  • Formal
3 9.8
extravagance
7 6.8
waste
469 1.2
candle-wasting
9.7
to waste time
728 1.6

Surface Forms

candle-wasting positive

Morphology

candle-wasting = candle + wasting (semi-transparent) = candle + waste + ing

The parts 'candle' + 'wasting' are clear, but the phrase is metaphorical (candle standing for time/resources) and the hyphenated participle form may not be immediately obvious to all learners.

Etymology

Candle-wasting joins candle and wasting, giving a simple image: imagine burning a candle for no good reason. A helpful way to remember it is like 'burning the candle at both ends', because it means using up time or resources in a wasteful, unproductive way.