MESS ABOUT, MESS AROUND
NOUNS
► TWATTING AROUND a messing about or fooling around; time-wasting → 1989
VERBS
► BUGGER ABOUT to mess around; to work ineffectually → 1937 sl.
► FAFF to mess about, restlessly and ineffectually, wasting time, often while something quite urgent needs attention; to play or fool around, to waste time → c1930
► FAFF ABOUT ► FAFF AROUND to mess about; to waste time on matters of no importance; to be indecisive or fussy → 1874 UK sl.
► FUTZ AROUND ► PHUTZ AROUND to waste time; to mess around; to trifle with → 1910s US sl.
► JACK AROUND to mess around; to waste time → 1993 sl. (Bk.)
► NUTS ABOUT ► NUTS AROUND to mess about; to fool around → 1942 US sl.
► PISSANT AROUND to mess about; to loiter, to wander aimlessly → 1945 Aust. sl.
Lexicophilia 