to piffle
1
9.9
- verb
- /ˈpɪfəl/
- Informal
- Stop piffling and get to the point; we're running out of time.
Examples
-
Instead of working, he just piffles about trivial matters all day.
-
The committee piffled around for hours without making any decisions.
-
Don't piffle about the details!
-
She tends to piffle when she is nervous.
-
During the meeting, he just piffled instead of addressing the real issues.
-
I can't stand it when people piffle instead of having a serious discussion.
-
She often piffles about with her friends instead of focusing on her work.
Synonyms
198
2.1
Act in a foolish or playful way without taking things seriously
74
4.4
Talk quickly in a silly way that is hard to understand
45
2.7
To talk quickly and without stopping about unimportant things
31
7.7
To talk a lot in an annoying, noisy way
12
8.0
To talk a lot in a silly way that makes little sense
11
8.4
To talk on and on in a silly way about unimportant things
9
7.8
To talk too much and tell secrets carelessly
7
8.6
To make quick unclear sounds when you are nervous or excited
5
7.1
To talk a lot about small unimportant things, often about other people
2
8.8
To talk a lot about unimportant things in an annoying way
2
9.9
To talk for a long time about things that do not matter
1
9.4
To talk for a long time about unimportant things
1
7.9
To talk quickly and unclearly so others cannot understand you
1
9.3
To talk for a long time about unimportant things in a boring way
1
9.9
Act in a foolish, annoying way instead of being serious
1
9.9
To talk in a slow, unclear way about unimportant things
1
9.9
To talk a long time in a silly or unimportant way
1
9.1
Talk in a light, silly way about other people
1
8.4
To talk quickly about small, unimportant things
1
9.9
To talk in a silly, confused way that has little meaning
1
9.9
To speak quickly in a confused or silly way
1
9.9
To waste time by doing silly, unimportant things
1
9.9
To behave in a rude or foolish way that annoys other people
To talk for a long time about unimportant things in a silly way
To talk a lot in a silly, pointless way
Talk or act in a silly way and waste time
To behave foolishly or clumsily
To behave in a silly or annoying way
How Silly
Surface Forms
Etymology
The verb piffle comes from the same playful sound piff and means to talk or act in a silly, unimportant way. A helpful way to remember it is to think of trifle or 'to waste time', because to piffle is to waste time with silly talk.