monkey-fart with (something)

monkey-fart with (something)

To tinker, fiddle, or attempt to use, especially in an ineffectual, clumsy, or inept manner. I monkey-farted with the washing machine all morning long, but I just can't seem to fix the clog in its drainage system. Grandpa's been monkey-farting with that old radio all day, but I doubt he'll get it to work again. Don't go monkey-farting with something you don't know how to use!

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

monkey-fart

and fiddle-fart

in. to waste time; to do something ineffectually or inefficiently. (A blend of monkey around and fart around.) Stop monkey-farting and get over here and get to work. He wasted his time fiddle-farting, and never got the job done.

McGraw-Hill's Dictionary of American Slang and Colloquial Expressions Copyright © 2006 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved.