1 B1 idiomatic informal
To waste time doing nothing productive, or to behave in an irresponsible, unfocused way.
"The teacher told the class to stop screwing around and open their textbooks."
inseparable
screw around
B2 informal inseparable intransitive
To waste time behaving irresponsibly, to be sexually unfaithful, or to tamper with something carelessly.
In plain English
To waste time being silly or irresponsible, or to be unfaithful to a partner.
What does "screw around" mean?
3 meanings, ordered from most common to least. Color-coded by CEFR level.
2 B2 idiomatic informal
To be sexually unfaithful to a partner.
"She found out he had been screwing around behind her back for months."
inseparable
3 B2 idiomatic informal
To tamper with or interfere carelessly with something.
"Don't screw around with the firewall settings unless you know what you're doing."
inseparable
Usage tip
Mildly vulgar. The sexual infidelity sense is common but should be used carefully. 'Screwing around with' something means tampering carelessly (e.g. 'stop screwing around with the settings'). More common in American English.
Words that pair with "screw around"
Natural word combinations native speakers use most often.
time settings system partner people computer
How to conjugate "screw around"
The five tense forms you'll use most often.
Base
screw around
I/you/we/they
3rd person
screws around
he/she/it
Past simple
screwed around
yesterday
Past participle
screwed around
have + pp
-ing form
screwing around
continuous
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