fanny around
1. To waste time or procrastinate by doing something unproductive or unhelpful; to fool around or spend time idly. Primarily heard in UK. Would you quit fannying around and give me a hand cleaning the house? I should have started this essay last week, but I've been fannying around with my new video game console. Well, he only fannied around all day—of course he's not ready to go!
2. To wander around a place, especially in an aimless or meandering manner. Primarily heard in UK. After I quit my job, I spent six months fannying around Paris. You've fannied around Europe for two years now. Any chance you'll settle down and get a job soon? I really enjoy taking a day off work in the spring so I can just fanny around the local botanical garden.
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms. © 2024 Farlex, Inc, all rights reserved.