1 C1 idiomatic informal
To spend time doing unimportant, aimless tasks without any clear goal.
"Stop putzing around and finish your homework before dinner."
putz around
C1 informal intransitive
To waste time doing unimportant or aimless things.
In plain English
To do nothing useful and just hang around doing small, silly things.
What does "putz around" mean?
2 meanings, ordered from most common to least. Color-coded by CEFR level.
2 C1 idiomatic informal
To occupy oneself with trivial activities, typically at home, without being productive.
"He spent the whole Saturday putzing around the garage, not really fixing anything."
Literal vs figurative
Words literally mean
To move around like a foolish or aimless person ('putz' = Yiddish slang for a fool).
Actually means
To do nothing useful and just hang around doing small, silly things.
Usage tip
Primarily American English, informal. 'Putz' derives from Yiddish, meaning a fool or a foolish person. Used to describe someone wasting time or doing trivial things without direction. Slightly more negative in tone than 'putter around.' Not common in British English.
Words that pair with "putz around"
Natural word combinations native speakers use most often.
weekend house garage afternoon all day
How to conjugate "putz around"
The five tense forms you'll use most often.
Base
putz around
I/you/we/they
3rd person
putzes around
he/she/it
Past simple
putzed around
yesterday
Past participle
putzed around
have + pp
-ing form
putzing around
continuous
Hear "putz around" in the wild
Listen to native speakers using "putz around" in real YouTube videos — click a clip to watch it on Looplines.
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