1 C1 idiomatic informal
To waste money gradually by spending it on trivial or unimportant things.
"He piddled away his entire bonus on gadgets he never used."
separable
piddle away
C1 informal separable transitive
To waste money, time, or resources on trivial or unimportant things, gradually and pointlessly.
In plain English
To slowly waste your money or time on silly, unimportant things.
What does "piddle away" mean?
2 meanings, ordered from most common to least. Color-coded by CEFR level.
2 C1 idiomatic informal
To waste time on unimportant or trivial activities.
"We piddled away the whole afternoon watching old TV clips and got nothing done."
separable
Usage tip
Quite informal and carries a mildly contemptuous or disapproving tone. The word 'piddle' is associated in British English with urinating, which adds a slightly crude flavour to this expression. More common in British English than American English. Often used when criticising someone's careless spending or use of time. 'Fritter away' is the safer, more widely used alternative.
Words that pair with "piddle away"
Natural word combinations native speakers use most often.
money savings time inheritance resources afternoon
How to conjugate "piddle away"
The five tense forms you'll use most often.
Base
piddle away
I/you/we/they
3rd person
piddles away
he/she/it
Past simple
piddled away
yesterday
Past participle
piddled away
have + pp
-ing form
piddling away
continuous
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