1 C1 idiomatic informal
To waste time in an aimless, unproductive, or troublesome way.
"Stop lousing around and get your homework done."
inseparable
louse around
C1 informal inseparable intransitive
To waste time, behave in an aimless or foolish way, or cause minor trouble.
In plain English
You waste time and don't do anything useful, possibly causing small problems.
What does "louse around" mean?
One main meaning — here's how to use it.
Usage tip
Rare and dated. Primarily American English. Most native speakers today would use 'mess around,' 'goof around,' or 'fool around' instead. Learners are unlikely to encounter this in modern texts.
Words that pair with "louse around"
Natural word combinations native speakers use most often.
all day work office time
How to conjugate "louse around"
The five tense forms you'll use most often.
Base
louse around
I/you/we/they
3rd person
louses around
he/she/it
Past simple
loused around
yesterday
Past participle
loused around
have + pp
-ing form
lousing around
continuous
Hear "louse around" in the wild
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Other ways to say "louse around"
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