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Glite Dictionary
to futz with

to futz with

1 9.3
To touch or change something in a careless and unnecessary way
  • phrasal verb
  • /fʌts wɪð/
  • Informal
translation icon : manipular
  • When your vehicle is covered and the cover is tightly secured, you have the luxury to compose yourself while they fuss and futz with the covering.
  • futzing with your radio

Examples

  • I found him futzing with his computer settings for hours without making any progress.

  • I spent a lot less time futzing with apps and complicated list managers and more time actually doing the things on my list.

    Blog text (7)

  • Would you stop futzing with your fuckin' bag ?

    Chasing Amy (1997)

  • I felt even more uncomfortable when my father suddenly began taking his clothes off, then he started futzing with his hair, and before I could say sigmund freud, my father put on this-- this-- this diaper!

    The Toxic Avenger Part II (1989)

  • Where the iPhone 5, Galaxy S III, or HTC One X handle a wide variety of scenarios at their default settings, I found myself futzing with the Optimus G more often to get decent pictures.

    Blog text (14)

  • He spent the afternoon futzing with his old bicycle instead of going for a ride.

  • Quit futzing with that broken toaster and just buy a new one.

Synonyms

to fuck with
vsto futz with
  • Offensive
225 9.9

To mess with someone's things or plans on purpose to cause trouble

is aimless and unnecessary rather than hostile or harmful interference
to tinker
vsto futz with
47 4.5

To try small changes to fix or improve something

is more aimless and unnecessary rather than focused on fixing
to fiddle
vsto futz with
  • Informal
41 4.7

To touch or move something without a clear purpose

is aimless and unnecessary rather than deliberate adjustment
to fiddle with
vsto futz with
32 3.9

To touch or move something nervously without thinking

is aimless activity rather than controlled or useful action
to futz
vsto futz with
  • Slang
1 9.6

To waste time doing small unimportant tasks

is more aimless and unnecessary rather than purposeful fixing
to fuckle with
vsto futz with
  • Offensive
1 9.9

To touch or change something carelessly, used in slang

is aimless and unnecessary rather than careful or skilled tinkering

Antonyms

to ignore
∞ 1.0

Choose not to pay attention to someone or something

to leave alone
∞ 2.3

To avoid touching and disturbing a person, animal or object

How Productive

fix
76 1.0
to tinker
47 4.5
to futz with
  • Informal
1 9.3
to poke at
9 2.5

Surface Forms

futz with infinitive
futzed with past
futzed with past participle
futzing with present participle
futzes with third person singular

Morphology

futz + with

If a B1 learner knows 'futz' as 'to tinker/waste time' and 'with' as the preposition indicating involvement, the sense 'to fiddle or tinker with something' is directly and compositionally derivable from the parts. The verb+with pattern is a standard, transparent construction in English (though the verb is colloquial), so prior knowledge of the constituents yields the MWE meaning.

Etymology

Futz with may come from the image of someone idly poking and fiddling with small parts or knobs again and again without a clear plan. So futz and with together give the idea 'to fiddle or tinker' with something in an aimless or unnecessary way.