fiddle about

1. To play with or idly handle (something); to tinker (with something), especially ineptly or improperly. John, would you quit fiddling about with the engine and bring the car to a shop already? Mary, stop fiddling about with the hem of your dress and sit still! I find that I fiddle about with my wedding ring when I get nervous.

2. To engage in aimless recreation or frivolous time-wasting. Quit fiddling about and work on your book report already! Tom spends most of his spare time fiddling about in the workshop downstairs. Instead of working on my taxes, I just fiddled about for most of the afternoon. That was a waste.