We all know how easy it is to waste time. Sometimes we get distracted, take too long, or just don’t feel like being productive. People use fun and clever idioms to talk about wasting time, and these phrases can help you describe those slow, lazy moments in a warm and easy way.
From my own experience, I’ve noticed that when I waste time, it’s not always a bad thing. Sometimes we all need a little break! These 25 idioms for wasting time will help you share those feelings in thoughtful, simple words. Whether you’re chatting with friends or writing something meaningful, these idioms make it easy to explain when time just slips away.
Let’s explore them together!
1. Kill time
Meaning:
To do something just to pass time.
In a sentence:
We played games to kill time before dinner.
Best use:
When you’re waiting and trying to stay busy.
Other ways to say:
- Pass time
- Fill the time
2. Drag your feet
Meaning:
To move or act slowly on purpose.
In a sentence:
He dragged his feet getting ready for school.
Best use:
When someone avoids doing something.
Other ways to say:
- Take forever
- Stall
3. Spin your wheels
Meaning:
To work hard but not get anywhere.
In a sentence:
I’m spinning my wheels trying to fix this.
Best use:
When you’re busy but not productive.
Other ways to say:
- Go in circles
- Waste effort
4. Fritter away time
Meaning:
To waste time on small things.
In a sentence:
He frittered away time scrolling online.
Best use:
When you lose time without noticing.
Other ways to say:
- Waste time
- Drift through the day
5. Beat around the bush
Meaning:
To avoid saying something directly.
In a sentence:
Stop beating around the bush and answer!
Best use:
When someone talks too much without a point.
Other ways to say:
- Stall
- Avoid the topic
6. Go around in circles
Meaning:
To keep doing the same thing without progress.
In a sentence:
We’re just going around in circles on this project.
Best use:
When no solutions are found.
Other ways to say:
- Repeat yourself
- Get nowhere
7. Dilly-dally
Meaning:
To waste time by being slow.
In a sentence:
Stop dilly-dallying and get ready!
Best use:
When someone takes too long.
Other ways to say:
- Linger
- Stall
8. Dawdle
Meaning:
To move slowly without reason.
In a sentence:
She dawdled on the way to school.
Best use:
For slow walks or tasks.
Other ways to say:
- Move slowly
- Linger
9. Lose track of time
Meaning:
To not realize how much time has passed.
In a sentence:
I lost track of time reading.
Best use:
When you’re too focused on something fun.
Other ways to say:
- Forget the time
- Get carried away
10. Monkey around
Meaning:
To waste time by being silly.
In a sentence:
They monkeyed around instead of working.
Best use:
For playful wasting of time.
Other ways to say:
- Goof off
- Mess around
11. Fool around
Meaning:
To play instead of work.
In a sentence:
Stop fooling around and focus.
Best use:
When kids or friends aren’t serious.
Other ways to say:
- Goof off
- Play around
12. Kill two birds with one stone
Meaning:
To do two things at once and save time.
In a sentence:
I called Mom while cooking to kill two birds with one stone.
Best use:
To save time, opposite of wasting it.
Other ways to say:
- Multitask
- Be efficient
13. Bide your time
Meaning:
To wait patiently, maybe wasting time on purpose.
In a sentence:
She bided her time until the meeting started.
Best use:
When waiting slowly.
Other ways to say:
- Wait out
- Pass the time
14. Burn daylight
Meaning:
To waste time during the day.
In a sentence:
Let’s get moving—we’re burning daylight!
Best use:
When someone’s taking too long.
Other ways to say:
- Waste the day
- Lose time
15. Take your sweet time
Meaning:
To move slowly and not rush.
In a sentence:
He’s taking his sweet time getting ready.
Best use:
When someone isn’t hurrying.
Other ways to say:
- Go slow
- Linger
16. On the back burner
Meaning:
To delay something until later.
In a sentence:
We put that project on the back burner.
Best use:
When you’re not working on it now.
Other ways to say:
- Pause
- Delay
17. Idle away
Meaning:
To spend time doing nothing.
In a sentence:
We idled away the afternoon.
Best use:
For lazy, calm days.
Other ways to say:
- Drift
- Lounge
18. Pass the time
Meaning:
To do something simple while waiting.
In a sentence:
We played cards to pass the time.
Best use:
For waiting periods.
Other ways to say:
- Fill time
- Stay busy
19. Waste not, want not
Meaning:
Don’t waste things and you’ll have enough.
In a sentence:
Grandma always said, “Waste not, want not.”
Best use:
As a life lesson.
Other ways to say:
- Be careful
- Don’t waste
20. Twiddle your thumbs
Meaning:
To do nothing while waiting.
In a sentence:
I was twiddling my thumbs before the show.
Best use:
When you’re bored.
Other ways to say:
- Sit around
- Wait
21. Take forever
Meaning:
To take a very long time.
In a sentence:
She took forever to finish her homework.
Best use:
When things move slowly.
Other ways to say:
- Go slowly
- Delay
22. Kill the clock
Meaning:
To use up time until something ends.
In a sentence:
The team killed the clock to win the game.
Best use:
When delaying on purpose.
Other ways to say:
- Run down the time
- Stall
23. Goof off
Meaning:
To play instead of work.
In a sentence:
They goofed off all afternoon.
Best use:
For silly wasting of time.
Other ways to say:
- Fool around
- Mess around
24. Hold up
Meaning:
To cause a delay.
In a sentence:
The rain held up the game.
Best use:
When something stops progress.
Other ways to say:
- Slow down
- Pause
25. Waste time
Meaning:
To not use time well.
In a sentence:
Let’s stop wasting time and start.
Best use:
For any delay.
Other ways to say:
- Lose time
- Spend time badly
Conclusion
These 25 idioms for wasting time help you describe those slow moments in a kind, simple, and fun way. We all waste time now and then, but with these easy phrases, you can talk about it warmly and clearly. Try using them the next time you’re feeling a little unhurried!
