1 C1 idiomatic slang
to behave in a silly way or waste time instead of doing something useful
"Stop pissing about and finish the report."
inseparable
piss about
C1 slang inseparable intransitive
to waste time doing unimportant things instead of doing what is needed
In plain English
to mess around and not do the real thing
What does "piss about" mean?
One main meaning — here's how to use it.
Literal vs figurative
Words literally mean
to move around while urinating
Actually means
to mess around and not do the real thing
Usage tip
Strongly informal and vulgar, especially in British English. Often expresses annoyance at laziness or delay.
Words that pair with "piss about"
Natural word combinations native speakers use most often.
all day at work with tools on the phone
How to conjugate "piss about"
The five tense forms you'll use most often.
Base
piss about
I/you/we/they
3rd person
pisses about
he/she/it
Past simple
pissed about
yesterday
Past participle
pissed about
have + pp
-ing form
pissing about
continuous
Hear "piss about" in the wild
Listen to native speakers using "piss about" in real YouTube videos — click a clip to watch it on Looplines.
Other ways to say "piss about"
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