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Phrasal verbs "faff about" vs "faff around"

Differences between faff about and faff around

Both faff about and faff around mean to waste time doing unimportant things, but faff around can also imply being disorganized or inefficient while wasting time.

Meanings and Definitions: faff about vs faff around

Learn how to use these expressions through these examples

Faff about

  • 1Behave indecisively.

    He told her to stop FAFFING ABOUT and make her mind up.

Faff around

  • 1Behave indecisively.

    She told him to stop FAFFING AROUND and make his mind up.

Usage Examples: faff about, faff around in Sentences

Learn how to use these expressions through these examples

faff about

Example

She always faffs about before starting her homework.

Example

He faffs about when he should be studying.

faff around

Example

Stop faffing around and start working on your project.

Example

He always faffs around before getting to work.

Similar Expressions(Synonyms) of Faff about

mess around

To spend time doing unimportant or silly things.

Example

We spent the afternoon messing around in the park, playing frisbee and having a picnic.

idle away

To spend time doing nothing productive or useful.

Example

He spent the whole day idling away on the couch, watching TV and scrolling through social media.

kill time

To spend time doing something unimportant or unproductive while waiting for something else.

Example

We played cards to kill time while waiting for our flight at the airport.

Similar Expressions(Synonyms) of Faff around

dilly-dally

To waste time by being indecisive or slow.

Example

Stop dilly-dallying and make a decision already!

muck about

To waste time doing unimportant or silly things, often in a disorganized or inefficient way.

Example

The team spent the whole practice mucking about instead of focusing on their drills.

bumble around

To move or act in a clumsy or disorganized way while wasting time.

Example

He spent the morning bumbling around the house, not really accomplishing anything.

Explore more Phrasal Verbs

Here are some phrasal verbs with the same verbs or particles

Phrasal Verbs with “faff”

Differences in faff about vs faff around: Usage, Formality, and Tone

Frequency in Daily Use: faff about or faff around?

Both phrases are more commonly used in British English than American English. However, faff about is slightly more common than faff around.

Informal vs Formal: Contextual Use of faff about and faff around

Both faff about and faff around are informal phrases that are not suitable for formal contexts. They are used in casual conversations with friends and family.

Tone and Implication: The Nuances of faff about and faff around

The tone of both phrases is generally light-hearted and humorous. They are often used to describe situations where someone is being silly or unproductive.

faff about & faff around: Synonyms and Antonyms

Faff about

Synonyms

Antonyms

Faff around

Synonyms

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