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Glite Dictionary
⏳ To waste time 😴 An idle person
to futz

to futz

1 9.6
To waste time doing small unimportant tasks
  • verb
  • /fʌts/
  • Slang
translation icon : trastear (con)
  • Don't futz unless it's absolutely important to the shot, okay?
  • futz around

Because suddenly it seems that we have new tools to futz around and hack life itself.

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Examples

  • Listen, Jazz, don't futz around.

    Fiction book (1990)

  • I'll just... I'll futz around with it until then.

    Argylle (2024)

  • When we get going, Mr. Jones, we don't futz around.

    Ice Station Zebra (1968)

  • I'm not futzing around watching Netflix all day.

    Rich Roll

  • Lucille muttered, "Wonder who that could be," put down the newly revitalized sponge, and futzed with her hair as she walked across the living room to the front door.

    Fiction book (1993)

  • I just futzed around in my sketchbook for a while, and after drawing lots of horned people in profile, which I have a weird tendency toward, I panicked, settled on one, and gave him a skateboard necklace and a pair of Chuck Taylors for earrings.

    Blog text (31)

  • I spent the afternoon futzing around with my old guitar instead of practicing seriously.

  • Don't futz while we are preparing for the presentation; we need to focus.

  • She decided to futz with the decorations, adding unnecessary items to the party setup.

Synonyms

to fuck around
vsto futz
  • Offensive
75 9.9

To waste time or act carelessly

emphasizes harmless, trivial messing rather than irresponsible conduct
to futz around
vsto futz
  • Informal
1 9.2

To spend time doing small unimportant things instead of working

is the same idea but presented in the original single form
to futz with
vsto futz
  • Informal
1 9.3

To touch or change something in a careless and unnecessary way

refers more generally to wasting time rather than just tinkering
to faff
vsto futz
  • UK
1 9.9

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

is broader, covering pointless messing rather than only avoiding necessary work
to piddle away
vsto futz
  • Informal
8.6

Spend time or money on unimportant things

is similar but stresses trivial or unproductive messing rather than resources
to footle away
vsto futz
  • UK
9.6

To waste time doing small, unimportant things

focuses more on unproductive messing with things rather than general aimlessness
to trifle
vsto futz
7.1

To spend time idly on unimportant things

is more informal and can imply casual tinkering rather than mere idleness
to faddle
vsto futz
9.9

To waste time on small unimportant things

is similar but often implies light, trivial fuss rather than simple wasting time
to frig around
vsto futz
  • Slang
9.9

To waste time instead of doing something useful

highlights active messing with things rather than passively being lazy

Antonyms

work
∞ 1.0

Effort people use to do a job or task

focus
794 3.5

Close attention to one subject or activity

Phrasal Verbs

to futz around
  • Informal
1 9.2

To spend time doing small unimportant things instead of working

to futz with
  • Informal
1 9.3

To touch or change something in a careless and unnecessary way

How Productive

work
∞ 1.0
fix
76 1.0
to tinker
47 4.5
to futz
  • Slang
1 9.6
to waste time
728 1.6

Surface Forms

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

Etymology

To futz likely comes from the same old German or Yiddish verb futzeln, meaning 'to fidget' or 'tinker', and it feels like the English words fiddle or fidget. So to futz is to waste time or mess with something without getting useful results.