- To waste time doing unimportant things, moving aimlessly, or being inefficient and disorganized.
Explanation
Origin
- British English slang, emerging around the mid-20th century.
- The origin is uncertain, possibly onomatopoeic, mimicking ineffective action, or related to older dialect words like faffle (to stammer, trifle, or blow in puffs).
- It implies a sense of disorganized, fussy, and ultimately unproductive activity.
Synonyms & Related Expressions
Alternatives
Slang/Informal:
- Dicking around (US/UK, vulgar)
- Goofing off (US)
- Lollygagging (US, slightly dated)
- Pissing about/around (UK, vulgar)
Milder:
- Taking your time
- Being slow
- Pottying
Situational Appropriateness
- Informal.
- Appropriate among friends, family, or perhaps very casually among colleagues.
- Avoid in formal or professional settings where it would sound unprofessional or disrespectful.
Misunderstanding Warnings
- Non-native speakers might not understand the meaning of wasting time or being ineffective. They could misinterpret it as simply doing things without the negative connotation of inefficiency.
Examples
- Stop faffing about and get ready, we need to leave!
- I spent all morning faffing around online instead of working.
- He's just faffing about in the kitchen, not actually cooking anything.
Dialogue
Sarah: Are you ready to go yet? The taxi's outside.
Mark: Nearly! Just deciding which coat to wear... and need my wallet...
Sarah: Oh, stop faffing about, Mark! Just grab any coat, we're going to be late!
Mark: Alright, alright! Grabbing it now.
Social Media Examples
- Tweet: Meant to clean the house but spent 2 hours faffing about on my phone instead. Classic. #procrastination
- FB Status: Can't believe how long it takes me to get out the door in the morning. Must stop faffing around!
- Reddit Comment: My partner takes ages to do simple tasks, just faffs about endlessly.
Response Patterns
- Mild defensiveness: I'm not faffing, I'm looking for my keys!
- Acceptance/Apology: Okay, okay, sorry, I'll hurry up.
- Agreement (if describing a third party): Yeah, he does tend to faff around a bit.
Common Follow-up Questions/Actions
After being told to stop faffing:
- The person might hurry up or try to justify their actions.
- The speaker might follow up with a more specific instruction (Just put your shoes on now!).
After describing someone faffing:
- Someone might ask What are they actually doing? or express agreement/frustration.
Conversation Starter
- No. Usually used to describe or criticize an ongoing action.
Intonation
- Often said with mild irritation or impatience.
- Stress typically falls on FAFFING and the particle (aBOUT/aROUND).
- Stop FAFFING aBOUT!
Generation Differences
- Widely understood in the UK across generations, perhaps slightly more common among older generations but familiar to most. Less common in US.
Regional Variations
- Primarily British English.
- Also commonly used in Ireland, Australia, and New Zealand.
- Much less common in North America, where messing around, goofing off, or dicking around might be used.