fiddle away
B2 informal separable transitive
In simple words
To waste time or money doing small, useless things instead of something important.
Literal meaning: To play the fiddle and let time or resources drift away.
Meanings
1 B2
idiomatic
informal
To waste time by spending it on trivial, unproductive activities.
"She fiddled away the whole afternoon looking at social media instead of studying."
Grammar: separable
2 B2
idiomatic
informal
To waste money or resources on petty, unimportant things.
"He fiddled away his inheritance on gadgets and gimmicks."
Grammar: separable
Usage notes
Usually used with 'time' or 'money' as the object: 'fiddle away the hours/years/money'. Expresses a critical tone — the speaker thinks the time or resources are being wasted. More common in British English.
Commonly used with
time hours money afternoon years opportunity
Forms
Base
fiddle away
I/you/we/they
3rd person
fiddles away
he/she/it
Past simple
fiddled away
yesterday
Past participle
fiddled away
have + pp
-ing form
fiddling away
continuous
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