dabble

dabble at (something)

To do something without much effort or enthusiasm. I know you're just dabbling at cleaning your room because every pile of clothes is still on the floor. We didn't get much done because we just dabbled at the project all afternoon. What are you doing, just dabbling at your book report? It's due tomorrow—get moving!

See also: dabble

dabble in (something)

To do something sporadically or as a hobby. Oh, I only dabbled in painting when I was younger—it's not like I went to art school or anything. He was something of a budding artist in college as he dabbled in poetry and prose writing. A: "The décor in here is straight out of a funeral parlor." B: "Who knew undertakers dabbled in interior design?" A: "Ha!"

See also: dabble

Farlex Dictionary of Idioms. © 2024 Farlex, Inc, all rights reserved.

dabble at something

to play at doing something; to do something halfheartedly. Don't just dabble at your history paper. Settle down and do it right. She dabbles at painting.

See also: dabble

dabble in something

to be involved in something in a casual manner. She dabbled in local politics for a while. I want to dabble in something new for a while.

See also: dabble

McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs. © 2002 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.

dabble in

v.

To do some activity occasionally, superficially, or without ambition: I've dabbled in painting, but I'm not very good.

See also: dabble

The American Heritage® Dictionary of Phrasal Verbs. Copyright © 2005 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.